Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Date
2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Counselor Education and Supervision
Committee Chair
Patrick Murphy
Committee Member
Melanie Burgess
Committee Member
Taneshia Greenidge
Committee Member
Justin Dodson
Abstract
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is often only thought of in the context of physical violence towards women perpetrated by men. Historically, this form of violence garnered much attention due to its objective and visible nature. Unfortunately, other forms of abuse and male victims are often not recognized and result in victim blaming. One such form of abuse is psychological aggression. Studies show that men experience IPV at nearly equal rates as women, but that men experience psychological aggression, also referred to as emotional abuse, at higher rates. Additionally, Black families have the highest rates of abuse. However, due to abuse being seen as a gendered phenomenon, when men experience IPV their masculinity is questioned, and they are often told to ‘man up.’ This implies a ‘real man’ could never be victimized and those who are lack sufficient masculinity. This study investigated the relationship between masculinity ideals using the Masculinity Inventory Scale and emotional abuse victimization as indicated on the Multidimensional Measure of Emotional Abuse for 68 Black men living in the Southern region of the United States. Regression analysis revealed that Black Masculinity was the most significant and strongest predictor of victimization accounting for nearly 15% of the variance while Primary Group masculinity ideals, which endorse the influence of Black men’s immediate family members, had a negative relationship with emotional abuse victimization. This latter relationship was not statistically significant as it only explained .5% of the variance in emotional abuse; however, clinicians and educators are encouraged to implement interventions for IPV that target both dismantling and reconstructing ideals of Black masculinity by working with the entire family and community to promote a hybridization ideal of masculinity that fully captures the experiences and emotional needs of Black Southern men.
Library Comment
Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest.
Notes
Embargoed until 01-16-2025
Recommended Citation
Brown, Kola, "Man Up: Masculinity and Emotional Abuse Victimization" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3580.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/etd/3580
Comments
Data is provided by the student.