VAWA Needs A Name Change

[AnnieBW]

Okay, I'm going to suggest something that won't be popular here. So, I'm putting on my asbestos undies and diving in.

The Violence Against Women Act discriminates against men. Specifically, men who are abused by their wives. Yes, it does happen. I have two friends who were attacked by their wives - one with a knife, and the other threw a pot of sloppy joe meat at her husband. Both of these guys called the police, and they were not believed, because "men are abusers, not victims." In fact, the one who was attacked with a knife had his wife falsely accuse him of abusing her, causing him to lose joint custody. These men literally have NO recourse, because of their gender. (BTW, the one who was attacked with a knife is black, the other is white.) They checked out some of these "father's rights" groups, but they all seem to be fronts for right-wing knuckle-draggers. They're not anti-woman, just anti crazy psychotic women that they unfortunately married.

One way that we could increase awareness of of domestic violence against men (both gay and straight) is to amend VAWA to be called something else. Perhaps the "Ending Domestic Violence Act".

While it's a no-brainer that most domestic violence victims are women, I think it's high time to acknowledge that men can be victims, too.

[NYC_SKP]

1. K/R (nt)

[Warpy]

2. Violence against women is epidemic worldwide and ingrained into cultures

across the globe, including our own.

However, domestic volence against men is not epidemic nor is it as deeply ingrained in the culture as violence against women is.

I'd have preferred to see the bill renamed The Domestic Violence Prevention Act, but I guess the acronym wasn't as tidy. Still, it does confer protection to any spouse whose home has become a battlefield.

[davidn3600]

6. Domestic violence against men is incredibly under-reported...

[Warpy]

7. Yes it is, and under reported among women, as well.

I hope some of this act is used to address the shame issues suffered by both sexes.

The only time anyone gets to put his or her hands on me aggressively is if I'm on fire and they're trying to put it out.

That's how it should be for all of us.

[PDJane]

3. I agree,

but I don't think that it would substantively change the attitude of the knuckle draggers in court. I've known men who have been abused, either emotionally or physically.

Mind you, there's a reason there is a stereotype; far, far too often it is the man as abuser.

[RKP5637]

4. Agree!!! It should be gender neutral. n/t

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. Most cop shops have figured out that domestic violence works both ways, esp the more progressive one

If there are clear signs of injuries, they should take the woman at least out of the house if not jail. How recent was this?

[SunSeeker]

8. As pointed out in other threads, men are very explicitly covered under VAWA.

"Nothing in this title shall be construed to prohibit male victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking from receiving benefits and services under this title."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_Against_Women_Act

[AnnieBW]

9. Thanks!

I'll point that section out to my friend.