Introduction

Domestic violence is a woman-related topic, however, in our current societies, it is increasingly common to see men being victims of domestic violence. Some men, just like women, suffer violence in their homes in noisy silence. A noisy silence because everyone is aware of this reality but no one dares to lift the veil on it. This taboo and complex subject is consuming thousands of men in their homes. Addressing this subject is a way of breaking its myth and allowing its victims to become aware and above all to accept support.

 Why is men-based violence at home a taboo?

From a young age, men are educated in most families to be kings in their future homes by assuming their obligations as men in all aspects. A real man does not suffer in his home because he is the one who always has the last word. In our societies, it is inconceivable that a man can admit that he is not master of his home, it is an abomination. Considered as the stronger sex, he must learn to live with his fears, and his sufferings in the greatest secret of the gods. We must accept that morals have evolved and that taboos sometimes constitute an obstacle to our development, especially regarding married life.

How does this violence manifest at home?

According to the World Health Organization, domestic violence within a couple is an evolving process during which one partner exercises, within the framework of a privileged relationship, domination which is exercised through physical, psychological, sexual, economic or spiritual.

As defined, this violence can be:

•       Physical: punches, scratching, use of bladed weapons, kidnapping, etc.
•       Psychological: threats, blackmail, insults, mockery, etc.
•       Sexual: rape, burning of genitals…
•       Economic: reducing the other in a precarious economic situation, taking their money without their consent…
•       Spiritual: using supernatural means to submit to the other without their consent in order to satisfy their desires.

It is important to emphasize that the weight of society weighs on both women and men in our African homes.

What can be done to help these men who are victims of domestic violence?

To be able to help these men, they must first agree to talk about it and, above all, want to be helped. For this, it is important that associations and NGOs working in the context of domestic violence; also carry out awareness campaigns for men. We must be able to demystify the problem to allow victims to confide and make the right decisions. Also, psychological support is necessary whatever the decision taken by the victim.

 Conclusion

To sum up, one can say that with the evolution of morals, talking about men related to domestic violence should not be a taboo. It must be recognized that despite their appearance as the stronger sex, men are also emotional beings. They also experience difficult situations like women in their homes and prefer to hide in dead silence so as not to lose face. We can say that it is indeed more complicated for them because they suffer this violence in complicity with the weight of customs. The only solution for them seems to be suicide in most cases because they prefer death to shame. We think it’s important to teach men from a young age that expressing their feelings and asking for help are not signs of weakness.