The Man Brand: Why Public Campaigns Hide Half of Intimate Partner Violence

This book explores public perceptions, often reinforced by public service advertising campaigns, of stereotypes tied to violencewhich frequently portray men only as the aggressor, the abuser, or the perpetrator, and women only as vulnerable, helpless victims. What is even more disturbing is that research suggests that the abuse of men is often viewed by the public as a joke. It is hard for the public and law enforcement to perceive of males as victims, as that is not part of the public perception of the man brand. This research investigates exactly what that public perception of the man brand isand why public beliefs tied to gender stereotypes might be inaccurateas well as what hinders a full understanding and public acknowledgement of the true nature of that brand. This work takes a progressive first step in expanding a complete understanding of what reinforces stereotypes tied to gender and intimate partner violence.