The College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE) of the University of Mindanao-Institute of Popular Opinion (UM-IPO) recent study has shown that approximately three out of 10 Filipino men have experienced domestic abuse from their wives. In 2021, the survey showed that 33.1 percent of Filipino men reported experiencing domestic violence. An increase from a study held in 2018 wherein only 12 to 15 out of every 100 couples reported experiencing such violence.
“Definitely, and there is a lot of shame and embarrassment for men who are experiencing [abuse]. The country’s inclination to masculinity prevents men from being vulnerable, and at the same time, there is no legal protection for them, said Jean Enriquez, executive director of CATW-AP
“Laws in the Philippines related to domestic violence mostly favor women and children more than men. And still, there is a lot of stigma surrounding men’s mental health. There is no safe space for them to convey their emotions due to the fear of ridicule, doubt, and even victim blaming. Through a psychological lens, it might be due to ‘learned helplessness’ that there is nothing more they can do about the situation,” Enriquez said.
Joel Tan, UM-IPO’s director for sustainable economy, said during a forum on May 6, 2024, that despite the ongoing discussions on domestic abuse, often focusing on women as victims, the study sheds light on violence directed toward husbands. Tan said it is necessary to revisit the laws to ensure that there are equal rights for all genders.
“Typically, women and children are protected by the Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) law, but we must also consider the rights and experiences of men and husbands. Are they exempted from violence?” Tan said in an interview with the SunStar.
Most husbands who experienced domestic abuse did not report it to the authorities. The usual causes of abuse were their partners reacting to stress, having dominant behavior and attention-seeking behavior. Emotional abuse is the most prevalent type of abuse in the Philippines, followed by financial, physical and psychological abuse. There are fewer cases of sexual abuse reported among men, and most of them involve verbal and physical assaults, online shaming and insults during heated arguments.
“Unfortunately, in our country, there is no law that protects husbands…. This is one of [the] motivations why we conducted this study. In our country, husbands often face challenges reporting abuse, as there is no specific law to protect them. They are advised to file for physical injury instead,” said Nester Nabe, assistant dean of CCJE of UM.
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