Etiological Exploration of Gender-Based Violence against Male Survivors in Chongwe District, Zambia

Abstract

Gender-based violence has for a long time been considered as a women’s issue. For over three decades now, the 16 days of activism against Gender based violence which is commemorated worldwide has been on ending violence against women and girls. Recent studies, however, reveal that men too are victims of Gender based violence and they have continued to suffer in silence. Studies have further revealed that men usually do not report cases of Gender based violence which makes the statistics to be very low and attract little or no attention from stakeholders. GBV against men is largely overlooked and trivialized. It is not an issue that is talked about, yet men continue to suffer from multiple forms of GBV which are physical, sexual, psychological and emotional abuses. These forms of GBV have long lasting effects on male survivors yet very little attention has been directed towards establishing the causes of these abuses against men. Thus, the objective of this study was to establish the causes of Gender based violence against male survivors in Chongwe District. The study used a Phenomenological approach with a sample of 9 male survivors. Data was generated through individual interviews, observations, and focused group discussions. The study findings revealed the following causes: Failing to provide for the family, alcohol abuse, infidelity, and desire for women to dominate. It is therefore, recommended that stakeholders mandated to deal with issues of Gender based Violence adequately respond to male violence and abuse as opposed to trivializing their reports.