Male Victim Underreporting in Abuse Cases

Abstract

Male victims of abuse often remain underrepresented in support statistics, legal complaints, and public discourse. Social stereotypes, gender norms, stigma, and institutional blind spots contribute to lower reporting rates among men across various forms of abuse, including emotional, physical, psychological, financial, cyber, and domestic abuse. This research synthesizes psychological, sociocultural, legal, and media-driven factors to explain why men may hesitate to report abuse. A new model, the Male Victim Silent Reporting Framework (MVSRF), outlines pathways from victimization to suppression of reporting. Policy recommendations include trauma-informed gender-neutral support systems, legal reform, public-awareness campaigns, and professional training.