In the first novel, Super PAC Strikethrough, the character must not only fight through an abusive political system and corporate structure, but he must also, literally and figuratively, fight through an abusive relationship.  What’s interesting is that if the main protagonist would have been a woman, the story may have been different.  Abuse is abuse no matter the gender, but my point is the available help.  Whether a victim is male or female is not in question.  He or she is or has been a victim; however, if a male victim attempts to scream out for help, the assistance is barely audible.  Law enforcement has equally abusive cases on both sides of the gender fence.  Depending on the research you read, many locales have noted an almost 50-50 split in the victim/perpetrator role.  Lucky for women, local, state, and federal assistance allows for shelters, counseling and usually laws that protect a woman first.  In the case of a male victim, no money has been earmarked for such assistance.  What’s worse is the shame and guilt that accompanies the man.  Isn’t he strong enough to “fight back”?  Isn’t he the main breadwinner and shouldn’t he just be able to walk away?  If a man was to fight back, arrest is imminent.  And in current society, he’s not always the main breadwinner.  What about children?  Why should he be forced to vacate the relationship and not be with his children?  Are there cases where a man can prove victimization and fight for his resources and children?  Absolutely.  Is it rare and arduous?  Absolutely.  Recently in a published letter to the editor in a local paper, a man sounded those same warnings.  In fact his comment was, “get out!”  In any argument, the man was going to lose.  In the case of Parker Moore in the trilogy of novels, his recovery from an abusive relationship takes years.   I hope at some point law enforcement, mental health practitioners, and the courts look closer at the evolving change in abusive relationships.  Until that happens, if you are a victim, stop acting like a victim.  If you choose to stay in an abusive relationship, you are a part of that abuse.  If you choose to find a path out, do it safely and with mindfulness toward a new life that will alarm you to another abusive situation.  You must take responsibility for your life.  Remember, that can be an intimate relationship, a work situation, or so-called friends.  In any case, find a new life.  And be safe.