Gender bias no
cure for domestic violence
by
By Lisa Scott
This article originally appeared in The Seattle Times
© 2002
October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Most articles and
public-service announcements focused exclusively on female
victims, while at the same time stereotyping all abusers as male.
Federal laws such as the Violence Against Women Act codify gender
discrimination and gender profiling.
Women's advocates claim that virtually all domestic-violence victims
are women, therefore discrimination is justified. They repeat
often-cited claims such as "the number one reason women age 16 to 40 end
up in the emergency room is violence," "95 percent of domestic violence
is committed by men" and "the chance of being victimized by an intimate
partner is 10 times greater for a woman than a man."
Yet, these "statistics" cannot be verified and are repeatedly
contradicted by both government and private studies. A Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) report found the leading causes of women's
injury-related emergency room visits are accidental falls, motor-vehicle
accidents and accidental cuts. Homicide or injury purposely inflicted by
others (including strangers and intimates) was the least likely cause,
exceeded even by injuries due to animal bites and venomous plants
(National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 1992 Emergency
Department Summary).
Proof that women are not the only victims of domestic violence
appears in the 1998 Justice Department report "Intimate Partner
Violence." Of 1,830 domestic-violence murders, 510, or almost one-third
of the victims, were men. The study also indicated that males are 13
percent less likely to report being a victim of intimate violence than
females.
Another 1998 Justice Department report, "Violence Against Women
Survey," found that while 1,309,061 women were assaulted by an intimate
partner in the prior year, 834,732 men were victims of domestic
violence, 39 percent of the total.
Extensive research concludes that men and women are almost equally
likely to initiate domestic violence. While women may be more severely
injured when domestic violence escalates, they can and do commit serious
crimes of violence against men. Women's advocates continually downplay
the existence of female violence. This obscures the fact that men are at
risk of being victimized, and leaves them less prepared for the
potential for violence against them.
Should an important public policy debate be about which sex is the
most important victim? Should a female victim be more important than a
male victim? Was Melanie Edwards (murdered by her husband in a
divorce/custody battle) more important than Chuck Leonard (murdered by
his wife in a divorce/custody battle)? Was Gertrudes Lamson (shot and
killed by her husband) more important than Donyea Jones (doused with
gasoline, set afire, and burned to death by his wife)?
Many male victims are ignored or ridiculed by a system that seems to
recognize only female victims. When women are the abusers, they are more
often than not given a pass. Recent cases with which I have personal
experience involve men who have been hit, punched, gouged, choked and
threatened with weapons by their spouses. Despite reports to police,
none of the women were charged with crimes.
These local cases, and their numerous national counterparts,
demonstrate that domestic violence is not the sole province of male
perpetrators and female victims. Yet, we are constantly told that women
are the only ones at risk. Had there been more education about the
potential for violence by both men and women, men like Chuck Leonard and
Donyea Jones may have been able to take precautions and avoid a deadly
risk.
Myths and distortions about male and female violence have no place in
the debate about stopping domestic violence. Despite a continual barrage
of reports about how epidemic domestic violence has become, the truth is
that most men and women are law-abiding citizens, loving spouses and
caring parents. The 1998 "Intimate Partner Violence" report indicates
steep declines in domestic violence against both men and women. The
Justice Department numbers cited above indicate that only 1.3 percent of
women (and .9 percent of men) are actually victimized each year.
Yet, domestic-violence advocates promote the myth that American women
live in constant terror of violence from husbands or boyfriends. It is
simply irresponsible to falsely demonize fully 50 percent of the
population, further fanning the flames of gender warfare.
During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, let's not let the zeal to
protect one class of victims perpetuate a bias that unfairly stereotypes
an entire gender. It is noble and well-meaning to advocate for female
victims. Yet, denying the existence of male victims of female violence
demeans and ignores these victims, puts them at further risk and reduces
the likelihood that female abusers will be held accountable for their
crimes.
Lisa Scott is a Bellevue, WA attorney focusing primarily on family
law, divorce and domestic violence. She is also a founding member of
TABS, Taking Action against Bias in the System.
This article originally appeared in The Seattle Times and is reprinted here
with permission of the author.
MENSIGHT
