IF a man told you he was being beaten up by his partner, what would your reaction be?

Sympathy? Or “man up” derision?

8 Society belittles domestic violence against men because it flies in the face of masculinity Credit: Getty Images

After all, he’s supposed to be the physically stronger sex, isn’t he? Why on earth would he put up with it?

That’s the attitude of vast swathes of society towards domestic violence against men, because it flies in the face of perceived masculinity and the notion of being able to stand up for yourself.

But, of course, it’s far more complex than that — not least because most men would never hit a woman and, therefore, can’t defend themselves.

8 One in three domestic violence victims are male Credit: Getty Images

Too many people fail to take male domestic violence seriously. And yet new figures show that it’s a very real and distressing problem that’s getting far worse.

The Office for National Statistics says that the difference between the numbers of male and female victims is now the lowest on record, with 1.2million women reporting abuse in the year up to March 2016 and 651,000 men. That’s one in three victims.

Too many people fail to take male domestic violence seriously Jane Moore, Sun Columnist

And yet, according to the male domestic violence charity Mankind Initiative, there is “a considerable shortage” of emergency safe houses for men despite a proportionate need. One wonders whether this too is because those in authority don’t take it as seriously as abuse against women.

Earlier this week The Sun ran a story about Steve and Lesley Dowey, who had too much to drink on their wedding day and ended up having “a slanging match”.

She reportedly “belted him in the face” and he then shoved her so she fell on her backside. The police were called and Steve was led away in handcuffs.

He spent 18 hours in custody and was later released without charge.

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Pushing someone over is one thing, punching them in the face quite another. Begging the question, why wasn’t Lesley the one carted off to a police cell?

Could it be an unspoken belief that a woman hitting a man isn’t such a big deal?

Women have, quite rightly, fought for equality in the home and workplace.

But that also means we should be treated equally when it comes to being punished for domestic violence against men.

Until we are, those statistics are just going to get worse.

Give Mel a break

A FASHION designer called Sophie Theallet (nope, me neither) has written an open letter regarding Melania Trump.

“As one who celebrates and strives for diversity, individual freedom, and respect for all lifestyles, I will not participate in dressing or associating in any way with the next First Lady,” she virtue-signals.

8 Fashion designer Sophie Theallet has blacklisted Melania Trump Credit: Getty Images

8 Melania hasn't really done anything wrong to deserve such catty remarks Credit: AP:Associated Press

Ye Gods love, you make frocks for a living. Talk about hoity-toity.

But she’s not alone. Marc Jacobs (£120 for a T-shirt) says he has “no interest whatsoever in dressing” Melania, adding sniffily: “Personally, I’d rather put my energy into helping out those who will be hurt by Mr Trump and his supporters.”

Oooh, get him.

Poor Melania. What has she done to warrant this opprobrium from such lofty types?

Royals' game of moans

Prince Andrew has posted an open and lengthy message on Twitter to say there’s “no truth” in the claim that he and his brother Prince Charles have fallen out over “my daughters’ participation as members of the Royal Family”.

Oh dear. First, Prince Harry’s emotive plea for his actress girlfriend to be left alone, now this.

8 Prince Andrew took it upon himself to set the record straight on Twitter Credit: Getty Images

Far from adopting the “never complain, never explain” maxim that has served the Queen so well, the younger royals appear to be complaining and explaining with a worrying regularity that further threatens the all- important mystique that sustains any monarchy.

Much more of this and one’s subjects might say: “Hang on, they’re just like us.

“So why are we paying £48squillion to keep them in the style to which we aren’t accustomed?”

— ACTRESS Keira Knightley says that when it was announced on TV that Donald Trump had become President of the United States, her 18-month old daughter rolled on to her back, closed her eyes and said: “F***.”

8 Keira Knightley seemed pretty chuffed with her baby girl's remark Credit: AP:Associated Press

Curiously, Keira added that she was “very proud” of the outburst.

Please don’t tell me she’s suggesting that, rather than a toddler merely repeating something she’d overheard, this was a pithy reflection on the state of politics in America?

— FORMER Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has criticised Theresa May’s decision to wear a £995 pair of leather trousers for a recent photoshoot.

“I don’t think I’ve ever spent that much on anything apart from my wedding dress,” she says.

8 Bitter Nicky Morgan needs to look closer to home if it's a reality check she's after Credit: PA:Press Association

And then adds pompously: “My barometer is always, ‘How am I going to explain this in Loughborough market?’ ”

In which case, may I humbly suggest that the EU-loving Ms Morgan trouble herself less with making sartorial digs at the PM and more with representing the views of her Loughborough constituents – 54 per cent of whom voted for Brexit.

— WHEN Melita Jackson died, she left a will in which she stated loud and clear that she expressly didn’t want her estranged daughter Heather to receive any money and instead left it to three animal charities.

She wrote: “I have made it clear to my daughter during her lifetime that she can expect no inheritance from me when I die.”

Yet, when Heather challenged the decision, the Court of Appeal awarded her £143,000 of the £486,000 estate – a ruling the animal charities are now contesting.

A will expert says that the Supreme Court now has to balance the right to leave your wealth to whomsoever you choose against the needs of relatives and those claiming dependency on a deceased person.

For the record, Heather is 50. Call me old-fashioned, but I always thought that, aside from proven coercion, etc, a will was binding.

If not, why bother making one?

— FORMER X Factor colleagues Louis Walsh and Cheryl Tweedy-Cole-Fernandez-Versini-Payne have a famously prickly relationship.

8 An olive branch has been handed out between Cheryl and bitter rival Louis Walsh Credit: Getty Images

But this week, he attempted to patch up their feud by stating: “I think starting a family will make her really happy.”

What he means is: Please God, something has to cheer her up.

— SALES of vinyl records have overtaken downloads for the first time.

Never doubted it for a moment.

In the Seventies, nothing could match the thrill of saving up pocket money to go to Woolies and buy a new album.

The smell of it (oh, just me then), the production notes, the lyric sheets, the heart-warming crackle as you placed the needle on it.

Download schmownload.