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Intimate Partner Abuse Against Men
This edition of the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence (NCFV) E-bulletin focuses on intimate partner abuse against men, one of the least understood issues in the field of family violence. The January edition aims to raise awareness and understanding of this complex issue by highlighting some of the research and information resources available in Canada.
The NCFV E-bulletin is a quarterly newsletter for those interested in family violence prevention. It is produced by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), on behalf of the Family Violence Initiative (FVI) of the Government of Canada.
We want to hear from you – please send your comments and feedback to our editor at: ncfv-cnivf@phac-aspc.gc.ca.
Intimate Partner Violence Against Men
Using data from the Incident-based Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR2) survey, the 2008 edition of Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile, reports that:
- Thirty-four percent of male victims of family violence were victimized by a current or ex-spouse.
- Males account for 17% of all victims of spousal violence reported to police.
- Male victims of spousal abuse were nearly twice as likely as female victims to report incidents of major assault (23% of male victims vs. 13% of female victims). One possible explanation may be that while male spousal abusers are more likely to use physical force, female abusers tend to rely on weapons.
- Across Canada, the proportion of spousal violence for male victims was highest for those aged 35-to-44 years (6%).
According to the 2004 (most recent) Statistics Canada General Social Survey on victimization:
- Rates of spousal violence by a current or previous partner in the five year study period were 6% for men (representing approximately 546,000 men).
- These men self-reported the most serious forms of violence they experienced as being pushed, shoved or slapped (34%) and being kicked, bit, hit or hit with something (34%).
- Some men are more at risk of experiencing spousal violence than others. For example, 18% of Aboriginal men reported experiencing spousal violence (compared to 6% of non-Aboriginal men).
- Seventeen percent of men reported experiencing emotional or financial abuse over the study period. Examples of emotional abuse include name calling and not wanting the victim to talk with other women or men.
Sources:
Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2008
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/pdfs/fv-85-224-XIE-2008_e.pdf
Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2005
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/pdfs/fv-85-224-XIE2005000_e.pdf
Resources on Intimate Partner Abuse Against Men
On behalf of the federal Family Violence Initiative and its 15 partner departments, the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence (NCFV) provides a centralized and comprehensive reference, referral and distribution service for information on all aspects of family violence, including intimate partner abuse against men.
In 2008, the NCFV released the updated Directory of Services and Programs for Abused Men in Canada. The directory provides a listing of services for men in Canada who have experienced intimate partner abuse. Each listing identifies the type of service provided, such as information and referral, counselling, education or advocacy.
To contribute to the understanding of this issue, the NCFV also distributes the publication, Intimate Partner Abuse Against Men: Overview Paper. It summarizes the available research findings of studies examining the abuse of men by their female partners. For example:
- Younger men may be four to five times at greater risk of intimate partner abuse than older men. Individuals in relationships whose roles are changing, e.g., young couples entering the work force and/or starting families or individuals approaching retirement are especially vulnerable. Other high-stress situations or conditions, such as unemployment, low income, personal bankruptcy and economic uncertainty, are also risk factors. Men in common-law relationships may also be at greater risk than married men (4% vs. 1%).
- The consequences of male abuse include physical injuries, feelings of sadness, confusion or frustration, as well as anger, hurt or disappointment, and emasculation. Other studies found that both perpetrators and victims of physical and psychological abuse have lower levels of self-esteem than non victims. Research findings indicate that men’s psychological health also suffers as a result of the abuse.
- Men who disclose their experiences of abuse are often met with disbelief, surprise or skepticism from the staff at domestic abuse shelters, legal-based institutions and hospitals, as well as their friends and neighbours.
Additional resources addressing intimate partner abuse against men include:
- Abuse in Gay Male Relationships: A Discussion Paper - This document provides an overview of available knowledge on the nature and extent of abuse in gay male relationships.
- Husband Abuse: An Overview of Research and Perspectives - This discussion paper provides insights into the issue of abuse against men by their intimate partners.
If you would like to obtain any of these materials, you may contact the NCFV at 1-800-267-1291 or visit the NCFV website at www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/nc-cn.
The NCFV offers over 130 publications, including overview papers, reports, discussion papers and handbooks on family violence issues. To preview our most recent publications, please see our What's New page.
NCFV publications are available free of charge, in hard copy or online, in English and French and in alternative formats. To order, please visit our Web site or contact us.
New in the NCFV:
- Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2008
- National Child Day 2008 (Poster)
- Abuse is Wrong in Any Language – This publication is available in French, Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Czech, Hungarian, Punjabi, Romanian, Serbian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, and Tagalog
- Handbook on Sensitive Practices for Health Care Practitioners
- Psychological Abuse: A Discussion Paper
- Raising Today’s Teens: Why Parents Matter (Overview Paper)
- Child maltreatment and alcohol (WHO fact sheet)
- Intimate partner violence and alcohol (WHO fact sheet)
- Interpersonal violence and alcohol (WHO fact sheet)
- Elder abuse and alcohol (WHO fact sheet)
- Youth violence and alcohol (WHO fact sheet)
The NCFV provides an extensive library reference collection, housed in the Health Canada Departmental Library. The following books may be borrowed through an interlibrary loan through your local public, academic or institutional library:
Resources on violence against men:
The abuse of men: trauma begets trauma, by Barbara Jo Brothers. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press, 2001, 119 p.
Call no.: ncfv/HV6626.25/B874/2001
Publisher's abstract: http://www.routledge.com/books/The-Abuse-of-Men-isbn9780789013798
Gender inclusive treatment of intimate partner abuse, by John Hamel. New York: Springer, 2005, 306 p.
Call no.: ncfv/RC569.5.F3/H325/2005
Publisher's abstract: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=18739
Male victims of elder abuse: their experiences and needs, by Jacki Pritchard. London: Jessica Kingsley, 2001, 112 p.
Call no.: ncfv/HV6626.3/P961m/2001
Publisher's abstract: http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book.php/isbn/9781853029998
Men abused by women in intimate relationships, by Alberta Children's Services, Calgary, 2008, 13 p.
Available: http://www.child.alberta.ca/home/documents/familyviolence/doc_opfvb_booklet_men_colour.pdf
Perspectives on female sex offending: a culture of denial, by Myriam S. Denov. Hampshire, UK: Ashgate, 2004, 225 p.
Call no.: ncfv/HV6046/D416/2004
Publisher's abstract: https://www.ashgate.com/default.aspx?page=637&calcTitle=1&title_id=6307&edition_id=7146
Rethinking domestic violence, by Donald G. Dutton. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2006, 415 p.
Call no.: ncfv/HV6626/D979r/2006
Publisher's abstract: http://www.ubcpress.ubc.ca/search/title_book.asp?BookID=2695
Women who perpetrate relationship violence: moving beyond political correctness, by Frederick P. Buttell Y Michelle Mohr Carney. Binghampton, NY: Haworth, 2005, 130 p.
Call no.: ncfv/HV6626.25/W872/2005
Publisher's abstract: http://www.routledge-ny.com/books/Women-Who-Perpetrate-Relationship-Violence-isbn9780789031310
New to the Library Reference Collection:
Bully blocking: six secrets to help children deal with teasing and bullying, by Evelyn M. Field. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2007, 254 p.
Call no.: ncfv/BF637.B8/F453/2007
Publisher's abstract: http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book.php/isbn/9781843105541
Child neglect: identification and assessment, by Jan Horwath. Basingstoke, Hampshire; New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007, 232 p.
Call no.: ncfv/HV6626.5/H824/2007
Publisher's abstract: http://us.macmillan.com/childneglect
Counselling across cultures, edited by Paul B. Pedersen et al. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2008, 477 p.
Call no.: ncfv/BF636.7/.C76/C857/2008
Publisher's abstract: http://www.sagepub.com/booksProdDesc.nav?level1=Course3&currTree=Courses&prodId=Book228380
Helping abused and traumatized children: integrating directive and nondirective approaches, by Eliana M. Gil. New York, NY: The Guilford Press, 2006, 254 p.
Call no.: ncfv/RJ507.A29/G463h/2006
http://www.guilford.com/cgi-bin/cartscript.cgi?page=pr/gil7.htm&dir=pp/ca&cart_id=658599.32602
Neither angels nor demons: women, crime, and victimization, by Kathleen Joan Ferraro, Lebanon, NH: University Press of New England, 2006, 344 p.
Call no.: ncfv/HV6046/F376/2006
Publisher's abstract: http://www.upne.com/1-55553-662-X.html
Stalking: psychiatric perspectives and practical approaches, by Pinals, Debra A., New York: Oxford U.P., 2007, 384 p.
Call no.: ncfv/HV6594/S782/2007
Publisher's abstract: http://www.oup.com/uk/catalogue/?ci=9780195189841
A terrible thing happened: a story for children who have witnessed violence or trauma, by Margaret M. Holmes. Washington, DC: Magination Press (APA), 2000, 31 p.
Call no.: ncfv/RJ506.P66/H752/2000
Publisher's abstract: http://www.maginationpress.com/4416428.html
Victims, crime and society, by Pamela Davies, Peter Francis, & Chris Greer. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2007, 304 p.
Call no.: ncfv/HV6250.3.G7/V642/2007
Publisher's abstract: http://www.sagepub.co.uk/booksProdDesc.nav?prodId=Book227348
Violent video game effects on children and adolescents: theory, research and public policy, by Craig A. Anderson, Douglas A. Gentile, & Katherine E. Buckley. New York: Oxford U.P., 2007, 194 p.
Call no.: ncfv/HQ784.V53/A545/2007
Publisher's abstract: http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Sociology/PopularCulture/?view=usa&ci=9780195309836
Why I didn't say anything: the Sheldon Kennedy story, by Sheldon Kennedy. Toronto, ON: Insomniac Press, 2006, 234 p.
Call no.: ncfv/GV848.5/.K45A3/2006
Publisher's abstract: http://www.insomniacpress.com/title.php?id=1-897178-07-7
In collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada, the NCFV offers a vast collection of videos that address family violence. Videos may be borrowed through NFB partner public libraries across Canada or through an interlibrary loan through your local public, academic or institutional library. To obtain a complete list of videos, libraries and distributors, please contact us or vist our online video catalogue.
Recent additions to the Video Collection:
Have you used videos from the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence / National Film Board Video Collection in the past five years? |
Sheldon: A Story of Human Courage
It was the story that broke Canadians’ hearts. On the ice, Sheldon Kennedy was a multi-talented hockey player who succeeded to the NHL. However, Kennedy paid a terrible price. He had been abused by his hockey coach from age 14 to 19. This film examines this period, how the abuse happened, why Sheldon did not disclose it for many years, his struggle to cope, and how he finally exposed and prosecuted his former coach. It also explores the dangers of sexual abuse and how pedophiles use their authority to control and take advantage of children.
Honouring Resistance
Program One: Honouring Resistance: A Workshop with Allan Wade
In Program One, Allan Wade presents a response-based approach to therapy with victims and perpetrators of violence and examines the connection between violence and language. The response-based approach consists of practices that expose violence, clarify perpetrators’ responsibility, elucidate and honour victims’ resistance, and contest the blaming and pathologizing of victims.
Program 2A: Honouring Resistance: A Response-Based Client Interview
In Program 2A, Allan Wade uses the response-based interview process with a client. Although the client is not a victim of extreme trauma or abuse, viewers witness a profound change in both the client’s self-image and of the specific memories of the event.
Program 2B: Interview Commentary, Client Reflections and Summary
Key Dates
February 2009 - Violence Prevention Month in Newfoundland and Labrador
http://www.gov.nf.ca/vpi/
April 26 to May 2, 2009 – 4th Annual National Victims of Crime Awareness Week
http://www.victimsweek.gc.ca/
January 12 to 13, 2009 - Establishing Expertise as an Ethical Expert Witness, Austin, TX
http://www.ncdsv.org/expertwitness_dv.html
January 26 to 30, 2009 – 23rd Annual San Diego International Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment, San Diego, CA, USA
http://www.chadwickcenter.org/conference.htm
February 5, 2009 – Rendez-vous Jeunesse « Les services aux jeunes en difficulté », Montréal, QC
http://www.aqesss.qc.ca/649/Programme.aqesss
March 30 to April 2, 2009 – The Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma 6th Annual Hawaii Conference on Preventing, Assessing & Treating Childhood, Adolescent and Adult Trauma, Honolulu, HI, USA
http://www.ivatcenters.org/Conferences.htm
April 1 to 3, 2009 – XIIème Congrès International de l’Association Internationale de Formation et de Recherche en Éducation Familiale (AIFREF) : Précarités et éducation familiale,Université de Toulouse, Toulouse II-Le Mirail, France
http://www.aifref.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=17
April 21 to 23, 2009 – 2009 International Family Justice Center Conference, Costa Mesa, CA, USA
http://www.familyjusticecenter.org/index.php/our-conference/conferences/index.php
April 24 to 25, 2009 - Sowing Seeds of Academic Change, Nurturing New Paradigms, Minneapolis, MN, USA
http://www.avahealth.org
April 26 to 29, 2009 – JWI (Jewish Women International)'s Fourth International Conference on Domestic Abuse, Crystal City, VA, USA
http://www.jwi.org/site/c.okLWJ3MPKtH/b.2237741/
May 5 to 9, 2009 – Child Abuse and Family Violence Summit, Portland, OR, USA
http://www.clackamas.us/sheriff/summit/
May 6 to 8, 2009 - Raising our Spirit Energy, Brantford, ON
http://www.ganohkwasra.ca/
May 12 to 15, 2009 – International Conference for Batterer Intervention Program Professionals, Minneapolis, MN, USA
http://www.bridgingperspectives.org/
May 13 to 15, 2009 - Bridging Perspectives: Intervening with Men who Batter, Minneapolis, MN, USA
http://www.bridgingperspectives.org/
May 18 to 20, 2009 – International Conference on Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence & Stalking, Anaheim, CA, USA
http://www.evawintl.org/conferencedetail.aspx?confid=6
May 20 to 22, 2009 – Précongrès et congrès 2009 de l’AQESSS (L’Association québécoise d’établissement de santé et des services sociaux), Montréal, QC
http://www.aqesss.qc.ca/707/Programme.aqesss
May 21 to 22, 2009 – Stand up and Speak Out, New York, NY, USA
http://www.acalltomen.org/
June 1 to 4, 2009 - The Next National Summit: Exploring Effective Interventions in Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment, Jackson Hole, WY, USA
E-mail cbehan@ncjfcj.org for more information or to be added to the mailing list for registration information.
June 22 to 24, 2009 - National Center for Victims of Crime: 2009 National Conference, Washington, DC, USA
http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/main.aspx?dbID=DB_Training_Institute1160
August 23 to 29, 2009 – 5th World Congress on Family Law and Children's Rights, Halifax, NS
www.lawrights.asn.au
September 7 to 10, 2009 - Children and the Law: International approaches to children and their vulnerabilities, Prato, Italy
http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=18951
September 9 to 11, 2009 - National Sexual Assault Conference, Alexandria, VA, USA
http://www.nsvrc.org/calendar/435
September 21 to 26, 2009 – 14th International Conference on Violence, Abuse & Trauma,
San Diego, CA, USA
http://www.ivatcenters.org/Conferences/2009/14thICSummary&Program.pdf
October 8 to 9, 2009 – National Conference on Health Care and Domestic Violence, New Orleans, LA, USA
http://www.fvpfhealthconference.org/
November 15 to 18, 2009 – 12th Australian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, Perth, Western Australia
http://www.apccan2009.org.au/
July 11 to 13, 2010 – International Family Violence Research Conference, Portsmith, NH, USA
http://www.unh.edu/ccrc/pdf/FRLconferencesavethedate2010.pdf
The NCFV E-bulletin invites provincial and territorial partners to highlight their initiatives as well as provide information, updates and other news.
ALBERTA
In October 2006, the Alberta Children and Youth Services published two documents addressing intimate partner violence against men. The booklet, Men Abused by Women in Intimate Relationships, defines abuse and offers suggestions on what you can do if you are abused or if you are concerned about someone you know, and where to get help for yourself or for people you are concerned about. A two-page information sheet, Men Abused by Women, is also available.
The Department also addresses this issue in their Family Violence Prevention Community Resource Guide, which was created to provide family violence information and inspiration for individuals, communities and organizations to become active in preventing violence in communities throughout the year. The guide contains a section “For Men and Boys” with information and tools on intimate partner violence against men. It also refers to services available for abused men in Alberta: Calgary Counselling Centre’s Turn for the Better therapeutic program and the City of Edmonton Community Services, From Chaos to Peace group program.
Visit www.child.gov.ab.ca/PFVB to access additional resources for men and boys.
Victims Fund, Department of Justice Canada
The Government of Canada provides funding for organizations to host National Victims of Crime Awareness Week events. This year, National Victims of Crime Awareness Week occurs from April 26 to May 2, 2009. The theme for 2009 is “Supporting, Connecting, Evolving”.
The key goal of the National Victims of Crime Awareness Week is to raise awareness about the issues facing victims of crime and about the services, assistance and laws in place to help victims and their families. The Week also acknowledges the work of victim service providers and their dedication to assisting victims of crime.
Limited funding (up to $10,000 per project) will be available under the Victims Fund, which is administered by the Department of Justice Canada, for projects that support the goals of the Week. Examples of eligible events and activities could include:
- Presentations by speakers on victim-related issues
- Relevant workshops and information sessions
- Public awareness events
- Information kiosks
- Public information flyers/brochures on victim issues and services
- Training for justice professionals on victim-related needs
- Special issue of a newsletter dedicated to the Week
- Radio, newspaper or television ads providing victim service information
Applications will be accepted on a first come first served basis up to February 12, 2009. Please note that funding is limited.
Here are few helpful links that outline the funding guidelines, application process and related information: Funding Information Sheet, Questions and Answers, Application Form [Word Version, 59 KB]
For more information on the 2009 National Victims of Crime Awareness Week, please contact victimsweek-semainedesvictimes@justice.gc.ca, or visit their website www.victimsweek.gc.ca.
Introducing Dr. Donald Dutton
Dr. Donald Dutton is a Professor with the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and an Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser University. Dr. Dutton received his Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Toronto in 1970. In 1974, while on faculty at UBC, he began to investigate the criminal justice response to wife assault, preparing a government report that outlined the need for a more focused response and later training police in domestic disturbance intervention techniques. From 1979 to 1995, he served as a therapist in the Assaultive Husbands Project, a court mandated treatment program for men convicted of assault. Dr. Dutton has also served as an expert witness in criminal trials involving family violence.
Dr. Dutton has published extensively on the issue of intimate partner violence (IPV), including the books: The Abusive Personality: Violence and Control in Intimate Relationships (2006) and Rethinking Domestic Violence (2006). Dr. Dutton’s recent work challenges the assumption that women are the only victims of IPV. In his 2008 article in Trauma, Violence and Abuse, entitled “My Back Pages: Reflections on Thirty Years of Domestic Violence Research,” Dr. Dutton notes that much of IPV is bilateral (or involves mutual combat) and that we need to stop thinking about the problem in “overly broad gender analysis terms.” Dr. Dutton argues that current interventions for IPV are too rigid and narrowly defined, and fail to recognize the significance of psychological factors, such as attachment disorder and trauma reactions in understanding IPV. He also argues for enhanced efforts to prevent IPV through, for example, training in empathy and conflict resolution in school children of both genders.
Other publications by Dr. Dutton that may be of interest include:
Dutton, D.G., Corvo, K.N., Hamel, J. (in press) The gender paradigm in domestic violence research and practice. Part 11: The information website of the American Bar Association. Aggression and Violent Behavior.
Goldenson, J., Spidel, A., Greaves, C. G. & Dutton, D.G. (in press) Female perpetrators of intimate violence: within group heterogenerity. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma.
Carney, M.M., Buttell, F. & Dutton, D.G. (2007) Women who perpetrate intimate violence: A review of the literature with recommendations for treatment. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 12 (1), 108 -115.
Dutton, D.G. (2007) The complexities of domestic violence. American Psychologist, 62 (7), 708-709.
Organizational Profile: The Men’s Project
The Men’s Project (TMP) is a dedicated counselling and educational resource for men and their families. Established in 1997, TMP provides critical services for men who are in crisis or who want to change their lives for the better. They have grown to become one of Canada's largest organizations offering such services for men.
TMP offers:
- crisis support, individual programs and group therapy programs;
- training programs to assist agencies, communities and government services to address issues of concern regarding men and their families;
- custom consulting services for social service agencies, educational organizations and government services in the development, program set-up, and delivery of men's mental health services; and
- keynote speaking, public education, and conference workshops on a variety of issues concerning men and their families.
TMP produced a brochure for men who have experienced recent sexual assault, A guide for men who have experienced unwanted sexual contact, and a brochure for men who have experienced sexual abuse, A guide for men who have survived sexual abuse as children.
Further information about The Men’s Project is available at www.themensproject.ca.
In The Next Edition: The NCFV’s March E-bulletin will focus on Domestic Violence Courts in Canada.
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Content of the NCFV E-Bulletin is provided as an information-sharing service; inclusion does not represent endorsement by the PHAC or FVI member departments.
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National Clearinghouse on Family Violence: Telephone 1-800-267-1291 or (613) 957-2938; TTY 1-800-465-7735 or 613-952-6396; Fax (613) 941-8930; Web site http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/nc-cn; e-mail ncfv-cnivf@phac-aspc.gc.ca
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