Studying the silent world of male domestic
violence victims
Written by Sherri Gallant Lethbridge Herald
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Sandy Annis made a vow to live a life of non-violence at the tender age of 12
years.
Now, as a family counsellor doing her master's thesis in counselling psychology,
she's focused her research on males who've been impacted by violence and is
looking for participants to be interviewed about their experiences.
"When I was 16 I decided I wanted to be a child psychologist, because I believe
that every child should grow up in a violence-free home and I wanted to be able
to do something to help. It was my mother who exhibited the violence. And
everything I've been reading throughout my 14 years in university is written
from women's perspective. That was not my experience, and I realized there's so
little support for the men out there."
Hundreds of shelters in Canada have their doors open to women who are victims of
partner violence, but for men who are victimized there's usually nowhere to
turn. Annis, who works as a counsellor at Family Centre, hopes to obtain at
least six interviews, and will accept more if they are forthcoming.
"A lot of men who are in violent intimate partner relationships don't tell
because there's this macho code where you're supposed to just take it like a man
— suck it up and don't cry. Sometimes they call the police and the police don't
believe them. There's a new wave of education going on now to educate
prosecutors and police, so they know how to respond when men do call.
"Men who would participate in the study could provide valuable insight into
their situations that may help counsellors, agencies and policy-makers
understand how to better assist men who are in abusive relationships.
Participation in the study is confidential and men can withdraw from the process
at any time.
"Lethbridge does not have any specialized beds for men who are abused," 
Annis has been co-facilitating the court ordered (mandated) Domestic Violence
Treatment group at Associates Counselling services for two years. She co-wrote
and co-facilitates a program called RAGE — Recognizing Alternatives to Getting
Explosive — at Family Centre.
She said she's looking for men who have been involved in an abusive relationship
with a female intimate partner, and they must have attended and completed a
domestic violence treatment program, related program or individual counselling
within the past year, and the intimate partner violence must have occurred
within the past three years.
Intimate partner violence, for purposes of the study, can be defined as (but is
not limited to) behaviors or acts of aggression that have occurred against the
men, or that the men have engaged in against their female intimate partners.
In-person interviews will take about 90 minutes. Those who are interested in
taking part can call Annis at 403-320-4045 or e-mail
mensexperience@