ISSN: 3107-4154 (O)
Volume II, Issue 1 (2026)
The Forgotten Half:
Revisiting Gender Justice in India vis-a-vis Male Survivours of Domestic Violence
Authors – Sherry Pant, Ph.D Research Scholar, Department of Law, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra.
& Dr. Krishna Aggarwal, Associate Professor, Institute of Law, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra.
Month, Year of Publication – March, 2026
Abstract
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 was one of the substantial efforts in India to acknowledge domestic abuse as a punishable act, thereby granting female victims access to emergency assistance and legal remedies. The acknowledgment was long overdue, considering that Indian women were frequently subjected to victimization by their spouse or in-laws, but this framed the issue of domestic abuse in terms of men as ‘perpetrators’ and women as ‘victims’. This perspective has narrowed, more often disregarded, an alternative phenomenon of research which highlights that female-perpetrated domestic abuse against men is also a noteworthy problem for Indian society. The presence of societal stereotypes and gendered standards frequently hinders male survivors of domestic violence from seeking assistance or revealing their experiences, resulting in a lack of reporting and a lack of visibility in discussions about domestic violence. The absence of legal remedy for male victims adds to their trauma. This research article strives to underscore that during the entire process to strengthen the status of women, there has been a lack of focus on the issue of domestic violence against males and its consequences. The article emphasises that it is crucial to revise criminal laws that reflect bias or prejudice towards a specific gender which in turn will force societal attitudes to evolve towards a more inclusive understanding of domestic violence. The paper simultaneously delves into the potential threats to Indian society and legal system that may be imposed by gender-neutral legislation against domestic violence. The article also aims to decode the current legislative stance on domestic violence while also shedding light on the diverse manifestations of domestic violence experienced by males in India enabling the development of informed and effective policies facilitating the enactment of necessary legislative interventions to bring out the true notions of gender justice.
keywords
gender neutral, gender justice, domestic violence, male victims, gender equality
Full Paper PDF format
Cite as
Pant, S., Aggarwal, K. “The Forgotten Half: Revisiting Gender Justice in India vis-a-vis Male Survivours of Domestic Violence” International Journal of Legal Policy, Vol.2(1) 109-121 (2026).
