Question

what role does masculinity play in intimate partner violence?

Answer 1

In a patriarchal societies or cultures when a man fails to attain the desired expectations of masculinity,that is in the condition of poverty, unemployment or lower status than the woman,then the man inorder to express his masculinity and power over the woman seeks violence against her,his intimate partner. Violence against the woman partner is used to suppress her, to express the male dominance,the masculinity of the man. The expression of male masculinity in the form of violence against the partner is deeply rooted in man's vulnerability of not attaining the desired goals of life as employment and looking after the family that's is attached expectations of male gender in the society. Thus ,in this way masculinity plays an important role in intimate partner violence.