The other side of the story:

Female perpetrators and male victims of domestic violence

Hilde Pape & Wenche Jonassen

The feminist movement in different countries put domestic violence on the agenda…

…proposing that domestic violence was an expression

of women’s subordinate position in society

That violence against women is related to gender

inequality has become a «mainstream» assumption

The occurrence of such violence has been taken

as an indication that gender inequality exists

An example – related to the UN gender gap index

• economic position,

• educational attainment,

• political enpowerment

• health/survival

Norway has been described as

«a heaven for gender equality» […]

From http://www.wikigender.org

However, inequalities remain,

including violence against women

However, research has shown that

not only men, but women too

perpetrate violence in intimate relationships

(in Norway and elsewhere)

Cross-cultural studies: Gender equality pays

Gender equality and equal rights for males and females:

•Treatment programs for violent females

•Shelters for male victims of domestic violence (?)

Norwegian shelters imposed by law

• Shelters run by NGOs, funded by public means

• 1. of January 2010: The Law of municipal shelters was put into action

The law includes two reforms:

• (Changes in funding)

• Shelters are now open to men exposed to violence in intimate relationships

Mini pilot study: Men’s problems – 20 cases

• Physical violence and psycological harassment (female and male partners and spouse)

• Threat from family due to «wrong» sexual preference of partner

• Threat of forced marriage

• Splitting with family

Continues….

• Sons (18 years+) who come with their moms

• Other family problems

• Mental health problems

• Person lacking identification papers (brought to the shelter by the police)