TY  -  JOUR
AU  -  Di Nuovo, Franca
AU  -  Onorati, Monica
AU  -  Guidi, Marco
AU  -  Durello, Renato
AU  -  Alberti, Annalisa
AU  -  Bernetti, Andrea
T1  -  The complexity of the phenomenon of male perpetrators of intimate partner violence
PY  -  2023
Y1  -  2023-01-01
DO  -  10.1723/4031.40066
JO  -  Journal of Sex- and Gender-Specific Medicine
JA  -  J Sex Gender Specif Med
VL  -  9
IS  -  1
SP  -  53
EP  -  60
PB  -  Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore
SN  -  2974-8623
Y2  -  2026/05/25
UR  -  http://dx.doi.org/10.1723/4031.40066
N2  -  Summary. Violence against women and abuse are not solely a problem for women, but also an issue for the man who perpetrates the violent acts. This highlights the need for positive actions so that men perpetrating intimate partner violence and committing aggression, can undertake change paths, thus preventing the phenomenon of gender-based violence. Since the 1970s, the need to develop interventions aiming to contrast intimate partner violence against women has been established, in Italy and worldwide, primarily by offering support and protection to women and minors involved. From these early experiences, the fundamental services of the anti-violence centers and the shelter houses were born. In many Western countries, starting in the 80s, the idea of enhancing the fight against gender-based violence also dealing with men committing such violence has been developed. Dealing with abusive men is still a new concept in the Italian cultural context, as this type of intervention was not undertaken until 2009. Therefore, Italy is lagging several decades behind in the development of services for men authors of intimate partner violence. This lag is still reflected today with: a) the limited presence of dedicated centers throughout the Italian territory, b) the limited knowledge of these centers by institutions and many professionals involved with the violence phenomenon (lawyers, judges, teachers, psychologists, doctors), and c) the lack of support from public and private institutions for the development and diffusion of these experiences. Working with the authors of violent acts is an indispensable action for a real contrast to violence against women and for a real cultural change for future generations. It is not enough to solely protect women and minors, but it is imperative to contrast the violent behavior at its utmost, because without an opportunity for change and care, men that committed violence would perpetuate the same violent relationships with their partners. The reality of men perpetrating violent acts constitutes a still-submerged phenomenon, and only by adequate care and treatment programs in place will offer men the opportunity for a conscious behavioral change. It is therefore necessary to spread and socialize, by means of awareness campaigns, the experience of centers for abusive men so that the knowledge and usefulness of these services will accelerate the socio-cultural progress necessary to counteract such inhumane violent behaviors.
ER  -