Why Nobody Talks About Domestic Abuse Against Men In Kashmir

As a law student in Kashmir, I have spent years understanding how legal systems protect people from harm.

Along the way, one stark truth has stood out: Domestic violence affects men too, even though their stories rarely make it into public debates.

Society often raises boys with the idea of endurance, and emotional control. This mindset frames how people see abuse inside homes.

Many assume that violence at home affects women alone. Men who experience harm often carry their pain silently, driven by fear of shame and social judgment.

Silence then grows heavier with time.

Picture a home where harm shows up through harsh words, emotional pressure, control, or physical force. Imagine carrying that pain while feeling unsure about being heard or believed.

Men learn early to hide emotional struggle, so many continue living with distress behind closed doors.

This experience appears across households, cutting across age and background. Many men remain trapped in unhealthy relationships or tense family spaces, waiting for understanding that rarely arrives.

Still, when people talk about domestic violence, women usually stand at the center of the conversation. Women face serious harm and deserve strong protection. At the same time, this narrow image leaves men unseen.

Men who speak about abuse often face doubt or awkward silence. Shame then settles in, and isolation becomes part of daily life.

Abuse against men appears in many forms. Some experience physical violence. Others face constant criticism, emotional manipulation, financial control, threats, false legal cases, or distance from their children.

These experiences leave deep emotional marks. Anxiety grows silently, sadness stays, and confidence weakens. Thoughts of self-harm sometimes surface. This inner struggle affects work, relationships, and daily routines.

Recent data from Jammu and Kashmir shows a sharp rise in reported domestic violence cases. Official figures from late 2025 point to a 121 percent increase during 2024-25, with nearly 2,000 cases recorded through women's support centers. These figures mainly reflect women's experiences.

Mental health experts and social workers observe that many men face similar harm, though their cases remain hidden.

Multiple men account for a large share of suicide cases across India, often linked to marital stress, emotional abuse, and legal pressure. Strife, and situational twists have added strain inside many Kashmiri homes, pushing many men deeper into silence.

Stories from outside the region reflect similar realities.

In 2024, a man in Bengaluru died by suicide after prolonged marital stress, emotional pressure, and restricted access to his child. Psychologists in Kashmir describe comparable situations in local accounts. Research from Haryana shows that more than half of married men experienced some form of domestic abuse.

These findings suggest shared social patterns that extend into the valley.

Laws in Jammu and Kashmir play a vital role in protecting women from domestic violence. These protections carry immense value.

Expanding the conversation to include men strengthens the idea of justice. Recognition of male victims supports fairness rather than weakening existing safeguards.

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