In their own words

Despite a substantial body of evidence showing men are equally likely to experience intimate partner violence (IPV) as women, male victims have been, and remain, marginalised in research, policy and practice. In the main, due to the dominant gendered narrative positioning IPV as a reflection of female oppression and patriarchal power. This view posits IPV is perpetrated by men against women because they are women. Insisting that where men are abused by women it is trivial, there is only minor injury and men do not experience fear or any long-lasting negative effect. From two international surveys investigating the experiences of IPV and coercive control in male victims, the UK cohort (n=538) was examined for experience and impact using thematic analysis (TA: Braun & Clarke, 2007, 2021) and Language Inquiry and Word Count (LWIC: Pennebaker 2007). Results revealed seven themes that demonstrate male victims in this sample experience similar types of, and impact from, IPV and coercive control as female victims, as well as gender specific types of abuse. Implications for policy and practice incorporate a whole system approach to supporting male victims, national campaigns to raise awareness, and a call for a parallel Violence Against Men and Boys strategy.