In an era where the Indian judiciary is gradually striving to close the gender gap and promote equality, the persistent neglect of male victims in cases of domestic violence remains both surprising and concerning. Society continues to operate under the deep-rooted belief that only women can be victims, while men are automatically presumed to be the perpetrators. The invisibility of their suffering doesn’t negate its existence. Male victims of crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual assault often remain unheard due to societal stigma and lack of institutional support. The much-publicized Depp v. Heard case shattered this stereotype. Johnny Depp, a globally recognized actor, revealed during a legal battle that he had been subjected to domestic abuse by his wife behind closed doors—an admission that shook public perceptions and prompted global discussions about male victimhood. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. There are countless similar cases where men suffer silently, yet receive no justice—simply because they are men.
A Global Phenomenon
The marginalization of male victims isn’t unique to India; it’s a global issue. The ManKind Initiative, a UK-based charity advocating for male victims, reports that nearly 25% of domestic abuse cases recorded by the police involve male victims. According to the Office for National Statistics in the United Kingdom, one in every three domestic abuse victims is male. Bhutan’s 2023 data revealed that 69 out of 788 reported domestic violence cases were from men seeking help. Even Finland, which consistently ranks as the happiest country in the world, reported in 2022 that out of 11,819 domestic abuse cases, 3,669 involved male victims—accounting for 31% of total cases. These figures challenge the widely accepted belief that domestic violence is a female-only issue. The reality is clear: domestic violence transcends gender, caste, race, and nationality. Anyone can be a victim.
The Indian Context
Despite having available data and case studies, Indian society largely remains blind to the fact that men too can be victims of domestic abuse. There’s an overarching assumption that domestic violence is a one-way street, where only women suffer and only men inflict pain. However, studies show otherwise. A year-long study conducted in Delhi and Rohtak, supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research, surveyed 1,000 married men and found that 515 had experienced abuse at the hands of their wives. Emotional abuse was the most common (reported by 49.6%), but there were also instances of physical (0.6%) and sexual violence (0.4%). Another noteworthy finding came from the National Family Health Survey (2005–06), which suggested that around 60 lakh women had inflicted physical violence on their husbands without provocation. Even more alarming is the observation that in many cases, men suffer not just from their spouses, but also from their in-laws. When this form of violence is included in the equation, the number of male victims reportedly rises to a staggering three crore.
This situation paints a grim picture of gender bias embedded within the legal and societal framework of India. While the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDVA) criminalizes domestic violence against women and provides a legal framework for redressal, no corresponding legislation exists to safeguard the interests of men. This legislative oversight is particularly disturbing given that the Preamble to the Indian Constitution, which was declared a part of the Constitution in Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, promises justice and equality to all citizens. Male victims, however, remain largely excluded from this promise of equal protection under the law.
Conclusion
Although data and anecdotal evidence suggest the prevalence of domestic violence against men, the issue only comes to the forefront when a high-profile case like that of Johnny Depp garners media attention. Even then, these instances are usually brushed aside as exceptions rather than symptoms of a deeper problem. The harsh truth is that male victimhood is often dismissed due to cultural prejudices and the societal image of men as inherently dominant or aggressive.
As society continues to evolve, so must our legal systems. Laws are not static—they are designed to reflect and respond to the needs of the people. And “people” includes all genders. If justice is the ultimate goal, it cannot be selective. Legal systems should serve as a shield for all victims of abuse, not just those who fit into historically defined categories. The continued exclusion of men from protective domestic violence laws not only perpetuates injustice but also undermines the very idea of gender equality.
While achieving gender neutrality in laws is a complex challenge, ignoring genuine victims only deepens societal fractures. The cultural stigma that sees men solely as aggressors must be dismantled. We need to stop defining victimhood based on gender and start identifying it based on facts and evidence. It is imperative that both lawmakers and the judiciary acknowledge the legislative gap concerning male victims of domestic abuse. Only then can India move toward a legal framework that ensures true justice and equality—not just in theory, but in everyday reality.
Contributed by: Aastha Shrivastav (Intern)