We all know that it’s not right for a man to hit his wife. There are all kinds of protective agencies and laws in place, shelters for abused women, support groups that meet both online and in person. This is how it should be, but what about marriages in which the wife is abusive to the husband? It does happen.
Most of the time, the husband is physically stronger than the wife, and if he’s the abuser, he can inflict a lot more damage. He can break her arms and ribs, give her concussions and bruises, and even cause wounds that lead to death. This isn’t often the case when the woman is the abuser. Unless she uses a weapon, she may not have the ability to inflict fatal wounds, but … is that really the point?
Any type of physical abuse should not exist in a marital relationship. It’s not right to slap your spouse, punch them, shove them, or in any way use your body against theirs. A woman might think that her habit of bopping her husband on the back of the head when she thinks he’s being stupid is no big deal. She might not see any harm in slugging his arm or digging her fingernails into his skin as a means of expressing her displeasure. But these behaviors fall under the heading of physical abuse, and they should not happen. Other more harmful forms of abuse may be happening in the home, with the wife as the perpetrator.
Disputes should be solved verbally, with each spouse having the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings without being shouted down or intimidated by their partner. There is no reason, ever, to act out physically when having an argument or a discussion, and this goes both ways – whether you’re the man or the woman.
It may be a little bit embarrassing for a man to admit that his wife physically abuses him, but he shouldn’t feel ashamed to admit it and to get the help he needs. It may be solved with the help of a marriage counselor who can help the wife understand that she’s being abusive. If she’s really past the point of listening, a brief separation might help awaken her to the reality of the situation. In some cases, the husband might want to consider a restraining order. Regardless of the circumstance, he should know that he has a right to his own physical safety, and if he’s in a position where he doesn’t feel safe, he can and should do what he can to protect himself. Abuse can go both ways, and help for it should also go both ways.
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