Perpetrators’ Profiles in Urban Patriarchies: An Investigation of Domestic Violence against Men in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

In urban patriarchies, the voices of male-victims of Domestic Violenceare relegated to the background. Tounderstand the rootsand improve risk prediction,there isneed to profile female perpetrators of domestic violence against men. This paper bridges this gap by characterizing female offenders and typifying profiles in an exploratory crosssectional study of female perpetrators in Ibadan. Akiwowo’s variation in the theme of sociation was used to explain this paper. Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained from a total of 120 male victims of domestic violence from Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State, using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data were analyzed using inferential statistics and typologies.Traits that prompted abuse of partners among women included economic independence, physical size, peer-influence, developmental issues, substance use and abuse, the need for retaliation, and a troublesome nature.Seven profile types of perpetrators were identified in this light. This paper affirms that perpetrators of DVAM are varied and refutes notions that give the impression that men are only abusive to women while women are passive recipients of abuse.