I think it's fair to say that violence from women towards men is socially more acceptable than when the genders are reversed.

If you believe in gender equality, as I do, think on this:

You're watching a show. A man does something. A woman punishes them with violence or yelling. A laugh track plays. Funny, isn't it?

Men are meant to be tough. Stoic, capable of taking hits. A man can't fear a woman, or fight back against or woman, or presume to ask for help when dealing with a woman. Why? Because they'd be weak to do so. Men don't need sympathy.

Our culture dislikes the battered husband, this violation of the norm. There exists a pervasive sentiment that men don't need help. Only women can be victims - what kind of man needs counseling? This toxic attitude harms battered husband, who rarely have anyone to turn to, as much as it hurts victims of rape, sexual abuse and violence.

• Oh, your wife is yelling at you? You must've done something to deserve it.
• Oh, your wife is hitting you? You can take it.
• Oh, your wife isn't letting you see your own children? Why, the mother is naturally the better parent. Maybe it's because you're a terrible father.

When was last you heard of a men's shelter or organizations for battered husbands? They exist, certainly, but funding and awareness are supremely lacking. What of using services for battered wives? Well, you'll either be treated as a potential abuser, believed to be an attention-seeker or politely dismissed.

Do you call the police? Though there are chances they will arrest the abusive wife, they are also likely to do nothing or arrest both the victim and the abuser. More uncommonly, law enforcement will assume the man to be the abuser regardless of what the call entailed and arrest him.

Whether we like it or not, abusive women hold a great deal of power in shaping the perceptions of those suffering from the abuse and those not, playing on our sociocultural assumptions to manipulate people. Battered husbands fear the reactions of revealing their trauma for good reason. Sad as it is, it is not rare forthose informed to fail to sympathise with them, to even laugh at them. Again, imagine if their gender was female.

I've interviewed a counselor on the subject, and their answers deviated little from what i could find online.

There is no awareness being raised. There is no research of consequence being conducted to ameliorate the situation. There has been little advances in the acceptance of battered husbands as people who genuinely need help and compassion from society.

I'll do my part, small as it is, and spread awareness. I don't need to do much, in all honesty. All I require is that you, whatever your gender or opinions, be willing to adjust your perception of the world to allow the existence of male victims, and to share it.