Abstract
Male victims (MV) of domestic violence (DV) have been scarcely researched in Australia in comparison to female victims and even less so from a psychological (non-feminist ideological) framework. This is especially the case in Australia’s most southerly state, Tasmania, where there is very little understanding off and services for, male victims of DV. This paper explores the experiences of males as victims of domestic violence whilst also engaging with two main support systems accessed by men, General Practitioners (GP’s) and Service Providers (SP). Subjects: 26 Tasmanian men and 9 (n=6 female, n=3 male) Tasmanian service providers from throughout Tasmania. Method: A Convergent mixed methods One phase design was employed, using a descriptive – qualitative sampling strategy using a Non-Probability Convenience sample, given the expected low numbers of participants recruited for the study. The study used Braun and Clarke’s (2006, 2016), 6 phase, Reflexive Thematic Analysis (TA) to develop themes and triangulate MV and SP experiences participants. Recruitment was primarily through a Facebook advertisement using a standard recruitment poster which targeted both groups. Results: Both MV and SP reported similar abuse types (physical (stabbing, scalding with boiling water, punching, kicking, threatening with knives, use of other weapons, poisoning etc), emotional, financial, gaslighting, parental alienation, use of the legal system, false accusations, isolation from family and friends), severity, Children witnessing and effects on children of the abuse, gaps in service provision, not believed, not recognised as DV victims, present for other services not as victims, treated as perpetrators and DV is not gendered. Discussion: Results show similar abuse types to those reported by women in the literature. One of the main themes was that DV is not gendered, and this is born out by other results. Discussion: Ramifications for service provision, health providers, policy makers and future research is discussed.