Gender Inequality: Male Victims’ Responses to Social Media Framing of Domestic Violence Against Men in Nigeria
Abstract
Domestic violence affects both men and women, crossing boundaries of race, education and ethnicity. It has evolved from a social issue into a public health concern. While much attention has been paid on domestic violence against women, less attention has been placed on women as perpetrators. This study examines how new media, particularly social media, frames domestic violence against men in Nigeria, addressing the limited research on this topic. Anchored on the media framing, agenda setting, and muted group theories, this paper adopts a qualitative research design, using a phenomenological approach and homogeneous purposive sampling technique to gather empirical data. Data was obtained from an in-depth interview with six male victims of domestic violence in Nigeria using Braun and Clarke's (2006) multistage thematic analysis. This analysis incorporates data from interview transcripts based on the research objectives. Findings reveals that social media framing of domestic violence against men in Nigeria perpetuates gender inequalities, marginalizes male victims, and reinforces harmful stereotypes as well as lack of support which discourages them from seeking help or engaging in social media discussion. The paper then recommends the promotion of inclusive narratives that validates male victimhood alongside female victimhood, thereby balancing narratives of domestic violence, as well as increase in awareness through advocacy campaigns which should be aimed at educating the public on the realities of domestic violence against men.
References
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https://journals.sau.edu.ng/index.php/sjmas/article/view/177.
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6. Auwalu A.I. (2018). Agenda-Setting Theory in the 21st century. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353314216.
7. Ayodele, J. (2017). The socio-cultural causes of male victimization in domestic contexts inLagos, Nigeria: A qualitative analysis. International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences, 12(2), 252–269.
8. Bates, E. A., Klement, K. R., Kaye, L. K., & Pennington, C. R. (2019). The impact ofgendered stereotypes on perceptions of violence: A commentary. Sex Roles, 81, 34-43.
9. Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology 3(2), 77-101. Doi:10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.
10. Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research: planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. — 4th ed. p. cm. ISBN-13: 978-0-13-136739-5 (alk. paper). LB1028.C742 2012.
11. D'Angelo, P. & Shaw, D. (2018). Journalism as framing. In T. P. Vos, F. Hanusch, D.Dimitrakopoulou, M. Geertsema-Sligh, & A. Sehl (Eds.), Handbooks of Communication Science, 19: Journalism (pp. 205–234). De Gruyter Mouton. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.013.817
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13. Ekweonu, C.L. (2020). Newspaper coverage of domestic violence against womenuringcovid-19 lockdown. Journal of Communication and Media Studies, 1(2),1-14. http://rex.commpan.com/index.php/naujocom/article/view/85/84.
14. nakele, A. (2019). Domestic violence against men: prevalence, implications, and consequences. Social Work: Experience and Methods, 24, 29-43. Doi: 10.7220/2029-5820.24.2.2.
15. Gado, V. N. (2023). Media coverage of culture and domestic violence against men in Nigeria.African Scholars Multidisciplinary Journal (ASMJ, 5(1), 111–116. https://gojamss.net/journal/index.php/ASMJ/article/view/1018/1017.
16. George, M. J., & Yarwood, G. A. (2018). Male domestic violence victims and barriers to help-seeking: A social psychology perspective. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 33(15), 2349–2370. doi:10.1177/0886260517753611.
17. Guran, S., & Ozarslan, H. (2022). Framing theory in the age of social media. 48, 446-457.https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/2533430.
18. Hanson, K., & Lysova, A. (2021). The father, the son, and the abuser: the portrayal of male victims of intimate partner homicide in the news media. Homicide Studies, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10887679211047445.
19. Hine B. (2019). “It can’t be that bad, I mean, he’s a guy”: Exploring judgements towards domestic violence scenarios varying on perpetrator and victim gender, and abuse type. In Bates E. A., Taylor J. C. (Eds.), Intimate partner violence: New perspectives in research and practice (pp. 43–57). Taylor & Francis.
20. Hine, B., Bates, E. A., & Wallace, S. (2022). "I have guys call me and say 'i can't be the victim of domestic abuse'": exploring the experiences of telephone support providers for male victims of domestic violence and abuse. Journal of interpersonal violence, 37(7-8), NP5594–NP5625. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260520944551.
21. Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. (2019). Nigeria: Domestic violence, including legislation; protection and support services offered to victims [NGA106360.E]. Retrieved January 15, 2025, from https://www.ecoi.net/en/document/2021300.html)
22. Kirkwood, C. (1993). Investing ourselves: Use of researcher personal response in feminist methodology. In Women’s Studies in the 1990s: Doing Things Differently? (pp. 18-39). London: Palgrave Macmillan UK. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-349-22928-4_2.
23. Kim, Y., Wang, Y., & Oh, J. (2016). Digital media use and social engagement: how social media and smartphone use influence social activities of college students. cyberpsychology, behaviour and social networking, 19(4), 264–269. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2015.0408.
24. Kolbe, V., & Büttner, A. (2020). Domestic violence against men-prevalence and risk factors. Deutsches Arzteblatt international, 117(31-32), 534–541.
https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2020.0534.
25. Luo, Y., Burley, H., Moe, A., & Sui, M. (2019). A Meta-Analysis of News Media’s Public Agenda-Setting Effects, 1972-2015. Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1077699018804500.
26. Magnusson, K., Lindgren, J., & Goldberg, J. (2021). Male experiences of domestic abuse: Patterns and policy considerations. Journal of Family and Social Issues, 14(3), 105–120.
27. Magnusson, D., Sperling, K., Veenman, S., & Oteman, M. (2021). News Media Framing of Grassroots Innovations in Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Environmental Communication. 641-662. https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2021.1880460.
28. Marra, J. & Myer, R. (2020). Framing theory. https://sites.psu.edu/rachelmyer/2020/02/11/framing-theory/#:~:text=Although%20framing%20theory%20has%20been,world%20through%20their%20primary%20framework.
29. Mahrukh, S., Ahmad, A., & Iqbal, L. (2019). Silencing the silence: A study of women at workplace. Global Social Sciences Review (GSSR), II(II), 162 – 176. http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2017(II-II).10.
30. McQuail, D. (2005). McQuail's mass communication theory (5th ed.). Sage Publications. Retrieved from https://www.comminit.com/dfid/content/mcquails-mass-communication-theory
31. Meares, M. (2017). Muted group theory. In the international encyclopedia of intercultural communication, Y.Y. Kim (Ed.). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118783665.ieicc0228.
32. Metaj-Stojanova, A. (2017). media reporting on domestic violence against women in the republic of albania. European Journal of Research in Social Sciences, 5(4), 65-72. https://www.idpublications.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/.
33. Nwachukwu, D., & Affen, M. (2022). Media framing of domestic violence by Nollywood movies and female aggressive behavior towards men in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. International Journal of Management Sciences, 9(6), 48 – 67. DOI: 2775145679964.
34. Nwalozie, C., & Atuma, U. O. (2021). Gender biases in the portrayal of domestic violence on Nigerian social media. International Journal of Digital Sociology, 12(2), 100–115.
35. Olaseinde, O., & Adekoya, H. (2021). Cognitive disposition of young couples in Ogun state towards social media framing of domestic violence against men. International Journal of Humanities & Social Science, 13(6), 1021–3197.
36. Rabadan, P.L. (2021). Framing studies evolution in the social media era. digital advancement and reorientation of the research agenda. Social Sciences. doi: 10.3390/socsci11010009.
37. Scheufele, D. A., & Tewksbury, D. (2007). Framing, agenda setting, and priming: The evolution of three media effects models. Journal of Communication, 57(1), 9–20.
38. Teresa, G.C. (2022). Effects of mass media framing of protest movements: a meta- analysis and systematic review of mass media studies. Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.30935/ojcmt/11538.
39. Thomas, A. A. (2015). Domestic violence against men within the Ashaiman community. University of Ghana. https://www.academia.edu/27938913.
40. Uchenunu, A., & Ngonso, B. (2021). Television-news framing and the social media gap on Covid-19 Pandemic. Journalism and Society. https://www.academia.edu/56226062/.
41. Ugwu, C. & Eze, V. (2023). Qualitative research. international digital organization for scientific research: IDOSR Journal of Computer and Applied Sciences 8(1):20-35,2023. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/367221023_Qualitative_Research.
42. Valenzuela, S., Pina, M., & Ramirez, J. (2017). Behavioural effects of framing on social Media users: how conflict, economic, human interest, and morality frames drive news sharing. Journal of Communication. doi:10.1111/jcom.12325.
43. Vermeer, S., Trilling, D., Kruikemeier, S., & de Vreese, C. (2020). Online news user Journeys: the role of social media, news websites, and topics. Digital Journalism, 8(9), 1114-1141.
44. Wallace S., Wallace C., Kenkre J., Brayford J., Borja S. (2019). An exploration of the need Of men experiencing domestic abuse: An interpretive phenomenological analysis. Partner Abuse, 10, 243–261. https://doi.org/10.1891/1946-6560.10.2.243.
2. Adekoya, H., & Olaseinde-Fayomi, O. (2020). A textual analysis of audience responses tosocial media framing of domestic violence against men. Sau Journal of Management and Social Sciences, 5(2), 213 - 221.
https://journals.sau.edu.ng/index.php/sjmas/article/view/177.
3. Ali, P.A., Dhingra, K. & McGarry, J. (2016). A literature review of intimate partner violence and its classifications. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 31, 16-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2016.06.008.
4. Anisur, R.K. & Najuwa, A. (2022). Female perpetrated domestic violence against men and the case for Bangladesh. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 32(4), 519-533. Doi: 10.1080/10911359.2021.1927281.
5. Asekun-Olarinmoye, E. O., Asekun-Olarinmoye, O. S., Adebimpe, W. O., & Omisore, A. G.(2019). Domestic violence against men: Myth or reality in the Nigerian setting. Texila International Journal of Public Health, 7(1). Doi: 10.21522/TIJPH.2013.07.01.Art010.
6. Auwalu A.I. (2018). Agenda-Setting Theory in the 21st century. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353314216.
7. Ayodele, J. (2017). The socio-cultural causes of male victimization in domestic contexts inLagos, Nigeria: A qualitative analysis. International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences, 12(2), 252–269.
8. Bates, E. A., Klement, K. R., Kaye, L. K., & Pennington, C. R. (2019). The impact ofgendered stereotypes on perceptions of violence: A commentary. Sex Roles, 81, 34-43.
9. Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology 3(2), 77-101. Doi:10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.
10. Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research: planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. — 4th ed. p. cm. ISBN-13: 978-0-13-136739-5 (alk. paper). LB1028.C742 2012.
11. D'Angelo, P. & Shaw, D. (2018). Journalism as framing. In T. P. Vos, F. Hanusch, D.Dimitrakopoulou, M. Geertsema-Sligh, & A. Sehl (Eds.), Handbooks of Communication Science, 19: Journalism (pp. 205–234). De Gruyter Mouton. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.013.817
12. Dala, N. B. (2021). Appraising media coverage of domestic violence against men: A study of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Jos Network Centre. Unpublished Research Project, Plateau, Nigeria.
13. Ekweonu, C.L. (2020). Newspaper coverage of domestic violence against womenuringcovid-19 lockdown. Journal of Communication and Media Studies, 1(2),1-14. http://rex.commpan.com/index.php/naujocom/article/view/85/84.
14. nakele, A. (2019). Domestic violence against men: prevalence, implications, and consequences. Social Work: Experience and Methods, 24, 29-43. Doi: 10.7220/2029-5820.24.2.2.
15. Gado, V. N. (2023). Media coverage of culture and domestic violence against men in Nigeria.African Scholars Multidisciplinary Journal (ASMJ, 5(1), 111–116. https://gojamss.net/journal/index.php/ASMJ/article/view/1018/1017.
16. George, M. J., & Yarwood, G. A. (2018). Male domestic violence victims and barriers to help-seeking: A social psychology perspective. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 33(15), 2349–2370. doi:10.1177/0886260517753611.
17. Guran, S., & Ozarslan, H. (2022). Framing theory in the age of social media. 48, 446-457.https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/2533430.
18. Hanson, K., & Lysova, A. (2021). The father, the son, and the abuser: the portrayal of male victims of intimate partner homicide in the news media. Homicide Studies, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10887679211047445.
19. Hine B. (2019). “It can’t be that bad, I mean, he’s a guy”: Exploring judgements towards domestic violence scenarios varying on perpetrator and victim gender, and abuse type. In Bates E. A., Taylor J. C. (Eds.), Intimate partner violence: New perspectives in research and practice (pp. 43–57). Taylor & Francis.
20. Hine, B., Bates, E. A., & Wallace, S. (2022). "I have guys call me and say 'i can't be the victim of domestic abuse'": exploring the experiences of telephone support providers for male victims of domestic violence and abuse. Journal of interpersonal violence, 37(7-8), NP5594–NP5625. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260520944551.
21. Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. (2019). Nigeria: Domestic violence, including legislation; protection and support services offered to victims [NGA106360.E]. Retrieved January 15, 2025, from https://www.ecoi.net/en/document/2021300.html)
22. Kirkwood, C. (1993). Investing ourselves: Use of researcher personal response in feminist methodology. In Women’s Studies in the 1990s: Doing Things Differently? (pp. 18-39). London: Palgrave Macmillan UK. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-349-22928-4_2.
23. Kim, Y., Wang, Y., & Oh, J. (2016). Digital media use and social engagement: how social media and smartphone use influence social activities of college students. cyberpsychology, behaviour and social networking, 19(4), 264–269. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2015.0408.
24. Kolbe, V., & Büttner, A. (2020). Domestic violence against men-prevalence and risk factors. Deutsches Arzteblatt international, 117(31-32), 534–541.
https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2020.0534.
25. Luo, Y., Burley, H., Moe, A., & Sui, M. (2019). A Meta-Analysis of News Media’s Public Agenda-Setting Effects, 1972-2015. Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1077699018804500.
26. Magnusson, K., Lindgren, J., & Goldberg, J. (2021). Male experiences of domestic abuse: Patterns and policy considerations. Journal of Family and Social Issues, 14(3), 105–120.
27. Magnusson, D., Sperling, K., Veenman, S., & Oteman, M. (2021). News Media Framing of Grassroots Innovations in Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Environmental Communication. 641-662. https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2021.1880460.
28. Marra, J. & Myer, R. (2020). Framing theory. https://sites.psu.edu/rachelmyer/2020/02/11/framing-theory/#:~:text=Although%20framing%20theory%20has%20been,world%20through%20their%20primary%20framework.
29. Mahrukh, S., Ahmad, A., & Iqbal, L. (2019). Silencing the silence: A study of women at workplace. Global Social Sciences Review (GSSR), II(II), 162 – 176. http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2017(II-II).10.
30. McQuail, D. (2005). McQuail's mass communication theory (5th ed.). Sage Publications. Retrieved from https://www.comminit.com/dfid/content/mcquails-mass-communication-theory
31. Meares, M. (2017). Muted group theory. In the international encyclopedia of intercultural communication, Y.Y. Kim (Ed.). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118783665.ieicc0228.
32. Metaj-Stojanova, A. (2017). media reporting on domestic violence against women in the republic of albania. European Journal of Research in Social Sciences, 5(4), 65-72. https://www.idpublications.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/.
33. Nwachukwu, D., & Affen, M. (2022). Media framing of domestic violence by Nollywood movies and female aggressive behavior towards men in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. International Journal of Management Sciences, 9(6), 48 – 67. DOI: 2775145679964.
34. Nwalozie, C., & Atuma, U. O. (2021). Gender biases in the portrayal of domestic violence on Nigerian social media. International Journal of Digital Sociology, 12(2), 100–115.
35. Olaseinde, O., & Adekoya, H. (2021). Cognitive disposition of young couples in Ogun state towards social media framing of domestic violence against men. International Journal of Humanities & Social Science, 13(6), 1021–3197.
36. Rabadan, P.L. (2021). Framing studies evolution in the social media era. digital advancement and reorientation of the research agenda. Social Sciences. doi: 10.3390/socsci11010009.
37. Scheufele, D. A., & Tewksbury, D. (2007). Framing, agenda setting, and priming: The evolution of three media effects models. Journal of Communication, 57(1), 9–20.
38. Teresa, G.C. (2022). Effects of mass media framing of protest movements: a meta- analysis and systematic review of mass media studies. Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.30935/ojcmt/11538.
39. Thomas, A. A. (2015). Domestic violence against men within the Ashaiman community. University of Ghana. https://www.academia.edu/27938913.
40. Uchenunu, A., & Ngonso, B. (2021). Television-news framing and the social media gap on Covid-19 Pandemic. Journalism and Society. https://www.academia.edu/56226062/.
41. Ugwu, C. & Eze, V. (2023). Qualitative research. international digital organization for scientific research: IDOSR Journal of Computer and Applied Sciences 8(1):20-35,2023. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/367221023_Qualitative_Research.
42. Valenzuela, S., Pina, M., & Ramirez, J. (2017). Behavioural effects of framing on social Media users: how conflict, economic, human interest, and morality frames drive news sharing. Journal of Communication. doi:10.1111/jcom.12325.
43. Vermeer, S., Trilling, D., Kruikemeier, S., & de Vreese, C. (2020). Online news user Journeys: the role of social media, news websites, and topics. Digital Journalism, 8(9), 1114-1141.
44. Wallace S., Wallace C., Kenkre J., Brayford J., Borja S. (2019). An exploration of the need Of men experiencing domestic abuse: An interpretive phenomenological analysis. Partner Abuse, 10, 243–261. https://doi.org/10.1891/1946-6560.10.2.243.
Authors
[1]
“Gender Inequality: Male Victims’ Responses to Social Media Framing of Domestic Violence Against Men in Nigeria”, Soc. sci. humanities j., vol. 9, no. 02, pp. 6725–6738, Feb. 2025, doi: 10.18535/sshj.v9i02.1634.
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