Parental Alienation and Domestic Violence: A Gendered Analysis of Men’s Experiences of Rejection, Exclusion, and Alienation

• In Event: Gender and justice

Abstract

Extensive research has examined domestic violence across the western world, with most studies focusing on women as victims of spousal abuse. Consequently, men’s experiences of spousal and family violence remain limited, and the very existence of this phenomenon is often contested. Under reporting and the scarcity of empirical studies further hinder its recognition, understanding, and response.
Parental alienation, a complex and damaging form of domestic violence, has profound consequences for all family members, warranting deeper investigation. In Israel, reported cases have increased nearly 20-fold in the past decade, with a significant rise in men identifying as the excluded and alienated parent. This trend challenges dominant narratives that primarily associate men with perpetration rather than victimization. This study examines men’s experiences of parental alienation, their vulnerability, and its broader implications for domestic violence discourse and policy.
As part of a larger investigation, this research employs semi-structured interviews with seven Israeli men who identify as alienated. It examines their experiences within marital, parental, and familial contexts, exploring coping strategies, self-identity redefinition and personal interpretations of parental alienation.
A qualitative content analysis identified four central themes: relationships with the self, relationships with children, relationships with the ex-spouse, and relationships with the broader formal and informal social environment. Additionally, the study uncovers distinct masculine response mechanisms, as well as adaptation and recovery strategies developed in response to alienation. These findings provide valuable insights into the complexities of parental alienation, contributing to a deeper understanding of its psychological, social, and legal implications.
The study highlights a growing global issue that lacks a clear legal definition, hindering the development of a structured systemic and therapeutic response. Furthermore, the gendered perspective offered by participants enhances the understanding of men’s experiences within the context of domestic violence, expanding both theoretical and practical knowledge in this under explored field.

Authors

• Ronit Haimoff Ayali, Beit Berl Academic College

• Moran Benisty, Beit Berl College