The first step toward reducing child abuse is to recognise the circumstance under which it occurs, writes Barry Maley. Stories this year of some horrendous child abuse and even child murder have made us acutely aware of a facet of adult behaviour we would prefer not to think about. Crime figures are collected by the
Year: 1999
Scholar sees laws on harassment as feminists’ weapon
Feminism has latched onto sexual-harassment laws as a successful way of bringing men to heel, says a University of Massachusetts professor and sometime feminist in a new book. In “Heterophobia,” Daphne Patai says that sexual-harassment law, once a useful tool to identify outrageous behavior, is now an albatross. “Sexual harassment seems often to be little
Myths and Realities or All the Facts that Fit we Print
Pru Goward Head of Office of the Status of Women 1997 when criticizing the Women’s Electoral Lobby for telling the United Nations that seventy per cent of police time in NSW was spent on domestic violence. She omitted to say that the figure came from the Office of the Status of Women in 1995.
“Family violence is probably the only situation where women are as or more violent than men. If men have a genetic predisposition to be violent, one would expect them to be more violent at home than their wives. Yet, an examination of violence between couples and violence by parents towards children reveals that women are as violent or more violent than men”
THE HIDDEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Myths and Realities
Such is the current state of domestic violence research and debate that it is possible to state that domestic violence is a complex, contentious and highly political issue, and still be accused of an understatement. It might also be said that there is more confusion between myths and realities in this area than just about any other social research. It is difficult to imagine an issue that has more profound implications for so many aspects of human life that we value highly: personal identity, interpersonal relationships, sexuality, family, sense of community, economic well-being, and the care and nurturing of children. Until relatively recently, the focus of domestic violence research has been on female victims and male perpetrators of violence. These foci are understandable when viewed in the context of the history of domestic violence research, but are coming under increasing scrutiny and criticism by ‘victims’ who do not fall into these categories.
Child Abuse Statistics – USA -1999
Third National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect (NIS-3)US Department of Health and Human Services Table 5-3 shows that children in mother-only households are 4 times more likely to be fatally abused [read: murdered] than children in father-only households. Table 5-4 shows that children in mother-only households are 40% more likely to be sexually
The Domestic Violence Industry in Massachusetts
John Maguire has written three important articles on the DV industry in Massachusetts News. The content closely parallels the situation in Australia.
“What is the Truth About Family Violence?”
We are sending this report to the media, and those persons and organizations who deal with family violence, in the hope that we can correct a serious misunderstanding about this very important issue.
We want to make it clear that we have been working to end family violence for over a decade. One of us is an original incorporator of our local women’s shelter. We were members of the “Century Club”, those who contribute over $100 annually. We have sponsored benefit events for our shelter that attracted national media attention. Since we began publishing scientific studies on family violence the women�s shelter has returned our contributions. Much of the women�s shelter movement is seriously misinformed about the causes and scope of family violence. We were also seriously misinformed. We have learned a lot during the last 10 years.
Domestic Violence in Australia: ARE WOMEN AND MEN EQUALLY VIOLENT?
Conventional wisdom holds (i) that physical domestic violence is mainly perpetrated by men against women; (ii) that violent men, being physically stronger, inflict more pain and serious injuries than violent women; and (iii) that physical violence runs in families. To examine all three beliefs, we bring to bear nationwide sample survey data. In investigating domestic
The Family Law Act – 1975 – Divorce Statistics 1971 – 1996
Senator Lionel Murphy introduced his Family Law Bill into the Senate as a replacement for the Matrimonial Causes Act. Senator Murphy introduced the Bill with the words “Mr President, this measure is a most important social reform. It will affect the lives of many.” (Hansard 13.12.73) The Family Law Act was passed in December 1975
Gender Differences in Patterns of Relationship Violence in Alberta
Men and women, respectively, reported similar one-year prevalence rates of husband-to-wife violence (12.9% and 9.6%) and wife-to-husband violence (12.3% and 12.5%). However, differential gender patterns of reporting were identified. On average, men reported that they and their female partners were equally likely to engage in violent acts and to initiate violent conflicts.