Gender based violence against men, an ongoing yet unspoken issue.

When we hear the term 'gender based' violence, our minds instantly think of women. Why is that? Society has allowed people to believe that gender based violence only affects women and not men. Men are continuously seen as perpetrators, reason being that most gender based violence victims are women. It is no lie that one in three women, face violence or abuse in their everyday lives sometimes  by people they know. For instance a colleague, an acquaintance or even a family member.
Domestic violence, sexual violence, intimate partner violence or any other abuse that aims to gain control over women is a form of gender based violence.

But what about men? Why have we chosen to become ignorant about the fact that, both men and women can be perpetrators of gender-based violence? Why have we accepted that it is rare and unlikely for men to experience gender based violence?.

There are many cases where men have suffered and experienced violence, but their stories tend to gain less popularity and exposure than those of women. One example is Yonela Boli' s story, a Fort Hare male student- who was stabbed to death by his girlfriend. Everyone spoke about Yonela Boli's tragic death, but I was amazed at how quickly his story was forgotten in contrast to Uyinene Mrwetyana's story.

Gender based violence against men should be treated the same way, society treats gender based violence against women. The world is quick to recognise men as vile creatures who perpetrate the ongoing violence, but fails to support and provide a platform to start conversations about gender based violence against men.

Both genders can be and are victims of gender based violence, society should refrain from being biased.