Redefining the Victim: Domestic Violence Shelters for Different Genders

The women\u27s movement of the 1970\u27s identified domestic violence as a woman\u27s issue, although domestic violence is not limited to just women. There are many shelters in Minnesota that assist women dealing with domestic violence, but very limited information exist regarding shelters for men. These services are not widely advertised or known, which makes it difficult for abused men to access shelters needed. This research examined the services offered from domestic violence shelters in Minnesota and compared the services available for women and children to services also addressing violence against heterosexual, transgender, and homosexual individuals. A qualitative needs assessment evaluated domestic violence shelters on the following criteria: services offered, populations served, lack of visibility to society, and how well the shelters presented or informed their specific services on their website