“The Law That Isn’t Mine”: perceptions of men who suffered violence on intimate partner violence

Abstract

Gender norms have influenced the analysis on intimate partner violence with a tendency to exclusively consider women as victims and men as perpetrators. However, studies show that violence perpetrated by women against men in intimate relationships is a reality. In this article, we present and discuss results from a qualitative, multi-centered, cross-sectional, exploratory, and descriptive research in Brazil. The objective was to understand how men who suffered violence perpetrated by women perceive intimate partner violence against men. We interviewed five men from the state of Mato Grosso and one from Rio Grande do Sul. Data analysis was performed using Thematic Analysis, from which two themes emerged: "The law that isn't mine" and "A man cries too". Results were discussed on the light of the Systemic Theory and evidenced that violence perpetrated by women in intimate relationships is a reality. These men tend to avoid reporting to authorities and, when they do, they feel their safety is not ensured by protective services. This research contributes to the scientific understanding of violence against men in intimate partner violence. Therefore, we suggest more studies with this population, and also advocate for services that work with men as victims of intimate partner violence.