‘She Deliberately Spiced My Food with Salt’: Victimization Experiences of Male Victims of Spousal Abuse in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

Spousal violence is one of the most pervasive forms of interpersonal violence all over the world. Although violence against women within the household has been a subject of enquiry in Nigeria, there is a paucity of research on husband abuse. Drawing from the chivalry hypothesis, therefore, this article investigated the victimization experiences of male spouses in Lagos State, Nigeria. Quantitative and qualitative methods involving the use of questionnaires, in-depth interview and focus group discussions were employed as data collection methods. One thousand married men were selected through the multistage sampling method from five purposively selected Local Government Areas in Lagos State. In-depth interviews were held with 12 male victims, while four focus group discussions were also held with married men and women. Results showed that respondents experienced emotional abuse the most, although other forms of spousal abuse were also reported. Most of the respondents identified jealousy as the major trigger of spousal abuse perpetrated against them. Men experiencing spousal abuse are urged to seek professional intervention early to ensure their social and emotional well-being.