The Swedish Agency for Support to Innovation, Agency for Gender Equality has, on behalf of the government, mapped men's exposure to violence in close relationships and in a fresh report, the agency has come to the conclusion that the problem is widespread.
According to statistics from the Crime Prevention Council Brå, 11.7 percent of all men between the ages of 16 and 84 were exposed to violence in 2022.
In most cases, it is a woman who exposes the man to violence.
It is mainly psychological violence that men are exposed to. When it comes to same-sex relationships or honor-related violence, the violence is more severe, says investigator Maria Björsson to TT.
Stereotypical norms about how a man should be make many boys and men not seek help when they are exposed. Therefore, the Agency for Gender Equality proposes that several actors, such as student health care, conscription for military service, and child care centers, should actively start asking more questions to men – and women – if they have been exposed to violence.
What we have seen is that men have difficulty discussing difficulties in life, so men need someone to talk to, says Björsson.
