The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey and The Perils of Advocacy Research

Abstract

According to a 2010 national survey by the Centers for Disease Control and U.S. Department of Justice, in the last 12 months more men than women were victims of intimate partner physical violence and over 40% of severe physical violence was directed at men. But an advocacy research approach and the feminist theory that domestic violence is power and control by men in a patriarchy means that data on intimate partner violence against men is not widely known. This paper examines the NISVS data and its presentation to the public. It examines Federal funding for domestic violence efforts, and the number of men offered shelter and other domestic violence services. It reviews public education efforts, government agency reports and applicable laws. It uses the paradigm of the Duluth Model and its Power and Control Wheel to demonstrate how information on IPV against men is denied, minimized or suppressed. This includes denial, minimization, blaming the victim, demeaning and ridicule, controlling the funds and even threats of violence. This harms women, since aggressive women cannot get the services they need.

Keywords: Domestic violence, intimate partner violence, National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, male victims of domestic violence, advocacy research