Domestic Violence PSAs Only Give Half the Story
Domestic abuse is always a touchy subject. In advertising, it’s usually only depicted for the purpose of spreading awareness, though some agencies do exploit it for shock value or dark comedy. The one common thread in most, if not all, domestic violence campaigns is that the victim is female. By looking at these ads, you would never know that 39% of domestic abuse victims are men. (Each year in the U.S., roughly 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are physically assaulted by their partner.)* [1]
So yes, more women are victimized. And regardless of the victim’s gender, men are more often the abusers. 84% of domestic homicides are committed by men. That also means, though, that 1 in 6 domestic homicides are committed by women. [1] Omitting imagery of male victims in the media just gives us one side of the story.
This gallery shows ads and public service announcements depicting domestic violence. While many are effective and creative, none of them address male victimization.
“Verbal abuse can be just as horrific. But you don’t have to suffer in silence. Call the Aware Helpline for advice and support.”
CAMPAIGN: Aware Helpline (Singapore)
“He gave me this on our anniversary. / He gave me this for nothing at all.”
CAMPAIGN: City of Hope (Dubai)
“It happens when nobody is watching.”
CAMPAIGN: Amnesty International (Germany)
“78% of domestic abuse incidents resulting in death occur in the victim’s home.”
CAMPAIGN: Interval House
“Many women bump into the fridge because they didn’t give enough sex.”
CAMPAIGN: Amnesty International
“Mom was reading me a tale, till daddy came back.”
CAMPAIGN: Amnesty International (Chile)
CAMPAIGN: Rise Now
“This Christmas thousands of women will get the same as last year.”
CAMPAIGN: London Centre of Domestic Violence (UK)
“Love that kills. The Cowards Show.”
CAMPAIGN: FES (Chile)
This is one example of exploitation for shock value and dark humor. The sexualization of domestic violence here would also be slammed if released in the U.S.
“Don’t cover up injustice. Speak.”
CAMPAIGN: City of Hope (Dubai)
CAMPAIGN: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
“When he controls your life, it’s no longer your life.”
CAMPAIGN: CASA (Citizens Against Spousal Abuse)
CAMPAIGN: Shelter From the Storm
“It’s not acceptable to treat a woman like one.”
CAMPAIGN: Coalition Against Domestic Violence
CAMPAIGN: The Family Place
ABC’s recent piece on domestic violence explores this double standard as well:
Sources:
* This is an approximate annual statistic. Data varies per year (e.g. From 1998-2002, 84% of domestic abuse victims were women. See Link #1)
[1] American Bar Association – Commission on Domestic Violence: Key Statistics
[2] AdsoftheWorld.com
[3] AdSneeze.com
VERY interesting post. Tweeted.
Well, I think the reason why this serious topic is tackled so little is because this usually unleashes a wave of hate towards women, from men who feel proven in their ideas that women are the evil. It’s sad, but unfortunately true. That’s why I try to avoid YouTube videos and other stuff about sexism towards men, because I know EXACTLY what the comments will look like.
Oh: Can you tell me what that FES thing from Chile is?
I agree completely with Lydia.
And it’s the same sort of problem I have with men’s rights groups.
They’re so quick to point out that women can also be abusive – but they do it in a way that downplays violence against women.
There is far more violence against women than men, so pointing out men who get abused by women is pointing out something that is significantly less prevalent and undermines women in abusive situations.
And also can lead to misogyny just as Lydia pointed out above, which leads to abuse of women.
I think the feminist backlash and men’s rights groups that bring up this stuff are less concerned with the actual abuse and more concerned with the dwindling male privilege.
Lela,
Pointing out that men are sometimes the victims of domestic abuse does not undermine women in abusive situations. Do you mean to say that the focus should remain on women in abusive situations solely because the greater percentage of abuse incidents are by men against women? Why can’t we approach two sides of the same problem at the same time?
You assume that when men see facts and figures showing that sometimes men get abused, they will hate women for it, and thus such publications lead to abuse. Would you say the same of when women see publications showing that women are the primary targets of abuse? Do they lead to the abuse of men?