The way ‘traditional’ masculinity is constructed in Australian society is evidenced through gendered patterns of domestic and family violence (DFV), with men the primary perpetrators of abuse against women. Yet, there continues to be a failure within institutions and systems to recognise the impact of gender in the conceptual framing of DFV, particularly within policy and practice responses. In this paper we examine the issue of ‘male entitlement’, to reveal how this phenomenon places men in a position to enact violence against women (and marginalised men) within relationships. We unpack how privileged and powerful social roles contribute to male entitlement, and increased risks for victims of DFV. While predominantly occurring in heterosexual relationships, with males as perpetrators, we acknowledge incidences of DFV occur in same sex relationships and/or with males as victims. Another issue related to the prevalence of DFV we explore is the construction of masculinity in Australian society, including what it means to be a ‘good man and father’. Masculinity and breadwinning remain closely linked, despite increasing numbers of women returning to the workforce following the birth of children, supported by over a decade of paid parental leave and subsidised childcare. Men holding prime breadwinning positions means they are more likely than women, to have control over household finances and other key decisions in the household. Such gender imbalances can set up the cycle of power and control for women in coercively controlling relationships. Moreover, risks factors associated with motherhood like time out of the workforce and dependence on male partner earnings while caring for young children need to be more seriously acknowledged as potential risk factors for women. Finally, we find that social, cultural and systems level change is needed to disrupt patterns of DFV, and this begins with a greater awareness of the impact of gender.