This MANUP? Talks session focuses on an issue that is still widely misunderstood and often avoided. Men as victims of domestic abuse.
Many men who experience abuse never speak about it. Not because it did not happen, but because they expect to be dismissed, laughed at, or not believed. Some fear that speaking up will lead to counter-allegations or make things worse rather than better.
This session is intentionally open and not restricted to a single narrative. Carol-Anne Fordyce from AMIS will draw on frontline experience and data to explore how domestic abuse affects men, why disclosure is so difficult, and what stops men from recognising abuse while they are living through it.
Rather than forcing a predefined angle, this talk allows space for the realities men describe themselves. Including situations where abuse does not fit common assumptions or public messaging.
What this session will explore
Why many men struggle to recognise or name abuse
Barriers that stop men reporting domestic abuse
Fear of disbelief, ridicule, or counter-allegations
How public narratives influence male silence
What services see versus what gets talked about
Carol-Anne will also reference AMIS data and insights, helping ground the conversation in real-world experience rather than theory or headlines.
This session is not about minimising anyone else’s experience. It is about acknowledging that male victims exist, and that silence has consequences.
Who can attend
MANUP? Talks sessions are open to men and women. This session is for anyone willing to listen, learn, and engage honestly with an issue many men feel there is no point talking about.
A Zoom link and passcode will be shared after sign-up.