“…she hit me and we stopped, she was yelling and screaming at me”: An exploration of the perceptions, identities and stigma of men and domestic violence

Abstract

Domestic violence is a prevalent and important global social issue. This thesis is unique as it seeks to mobilize knowledge of male perceptions and experiences of domestic violence by giving voice to a rather silenced, invisible, and often neglected group of individuals. Through face-to-face conversations with nine men with ties to a community organization located within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), a qualitative conversation and thematic analysis was conducted. Through this interpretivist framework, I closely examine their lived experiences and perceptions of social reality as these men navigate the labels of masculine identities, stigma and social construction of domestic violence. Their perceptions inform us of their experiences with the criminal justice system and access to service(s). Core themes that emerged from the data are: (a) Masculine Identities, (b) Stigma Management, and (c) Barriers to Service. Practical implications, recommendations, future research and limitations in dealing with this neglected population is discussed.