by Empress Djata

Created on: July 23, 2009

Part of the American culture involves parents teaching their sons not to hit little girls, even if they hit them first. As these boy's grow into adult men they keep these same guiding moral principles. Men are tuff and strong, while women are dainty and fragile. We even learn this method of thinking in nursery school rhymes, such as "What Folks Are Made Of." In this rhyme boys are made of snips and snails, and puppy-dogs' tails, whereas girls are made from sugar and spice, and everything nice. Well, some of these male victims of domestic violence would have a difference in opinion about that rhyme. As women's roles in society change, as to are their behavior patterns. No longer are they the weak, docile woman who is subservient to her man! Now they are strong, independent women paying their own tabs and making their own name for themselves.

One of the most dominant cases in point, was funnyman, Phil Hartman from Saturday Night Live, the Simpson's, and NewsRadio, who was shot to death by his wife Brynn Omdahl. Mr. Hartman was a successful public figure, yet he was able to fall prey to domestic violence. Mrs. Omdahl had a long history of mental illness, in addition to drug and alcohol abuse, long before these actions took her husband's life. These are sign's within relationships where the male partner is the abuser, yet these sign's are over looked by society when women are associated. More and more of today's news headlines are becoming populated by male domestic violence cases. These cases aren't limited to heterosexual relationships either; it is also hitting the gay community as well. Although many people would believe it is more likely within the gay community, many cases are popping up where women are the abusers or killers of their male partners. This is not limited to a single age group.

Fear and embarrassment are just a few of the stigmas associated with male domestic violence. Disbelief is probably the most likely reason for why men do not report such abuse, although, like their female counterpart shame has a lot to do with the resistance to coming forward. Steve McNair, quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens, was another victim of domestic violence that resulted in death. Who could imagine a football player would undergo abuse imposed by a petite partner. The shocking truth is that over every fourteen seconds a partner assaults their male counterpart. Moreover, the percentage between male and female domestic violence victims in the United States is almost equal. However, the amount of resources available to men is very limited at this time.

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