Why do feminists refuse to acknowledge male victims of DV?

Question

Domestic violence is a problem that affects men AND women in overwhelming numbers. The difference, however, is that men receive almost zero assistance in terms of shelters, government funding, or even SYMPATHY when they are battered by their wives. There is no "battered husband syndrome" to use as a defense in court, and sometimes even male CHILDREN are turned away from shelters because they'll create a "hostile environment."

This is the newest study that proves yet again that DV is a problem that affects both sexes:

http://www.unh.edu/news/cj_nr/2006/may/em_060519male.cfm?type=n

It's nothing new, either. Here's a page that contains the mother lode of studies all showing that women are as violent, if not more violent, as men:

http://www.csulb.edu/~mfiebert/assault.htm

In the face of these facts, why is there so much denial? The best I've ever seen a feminist do in this category is to admit that MAYBE men have a problem, but women have it soooo much worse. Why the dishonesty?

Answer 1

The lions share of the blame for the suppression of male DV victims is shared primarily by the female victims who have come into power i.e. Oprah, Sally, etc. As a male victim, and I'm not atypical in that I am 6'1" and 220 lbs. of hard working muscle, I was severely beaten as a result of my own knowledge of the physical abuse I would be capable of. In my own case, though I hunkered over the telephone talking to the police while my exwife beat me over the head and face with a wooden drying rack, when it went to court it was determined by a judge to have been mutual combat, because when she connected a particularly violent blow to the side of my face ( breaking my cheek bone and sending wood splinters into my eye) I pushed her away and she sat down hard on a doorstop thereby bruising her tail bone.In light of the fact that I had contacted her body in what was construed as a violent nature, all charges were dismissed. I'm sure at some time during almost any DV altercation, the victim lashes out either with the intent of doing injury, or more likely in the interests of self preservation. Would the courts then call that mutual combat? If my case happened to a woman, Oprah and her militant horde would have been up in arms. As a man her and her ilk look at it as retribution for all the women who have never come forward.

Answer 2

Two reasons:-

Most people believe that Women are victims and that Men are not. And, secondly,
By pursuing a course of justice for Men You are detracting from Women's Issues, and Society can not concentrate on two similar issues at the same time without making a compromise that effects both. It is better to get legislation on the books and then work out the detail than it is to squabble over resources and priorities.

Question: When was the last time a Woman was convicted for a crime of Rape against a Man? I don't mean carnal knowledge of a boy, I mean the good old, "He was asleep, but what the heck......." story? Lets have a test case and see how long it takes for the ripple effect to get the funding for the shelters and support groups out of the Government's coffers and into the hands of the Men and Women who are dealing with the victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault!

Answer 3

A previous poster added:

"BECAUSE WE CAN! Standard answer, I know, but often true. "

Now, if you're dealing with something like that, what do you expect?
I know it's a rehashed answer, but I'll summarize quickly; the idea of violence committed against men (by women) doesn't sit well with the feminist agenda in general so they choose to ignore it. It's gotten to the point where I don't even think it's necessarily malicious- most of the feminists just believe what they're told and don't question any of it, simply believing that men are more violent and women are generally in the right. You can blame a number of things for that, but it won't answer the question... in fact, the quotation above summarizes it perfectly.

Answer 4

Simply put, because it does nothing to further their agenda, which is anti-male.
It is simply a matter of which side, male or female, has political power. Men have never formed a group like N.O.W. nor have they exerted political pressure on governments to favor their sex.
Feminists have, for years, perpetuated the idea that men beat women and children without showing the facts that women also beat men and children. According to the Department of Justice, women perpetuate more child abuse than men but as this simple fact does nothing to favor passage of anti-male legislation, it is never mentioned. Neither is the fact that abusers are almost equally men/women. This type of 'lying by omission' is one of the reasons Violence Against Women was passed, twice. Even though it is obviously predominately sexually biased, the pressure of feminists on legislators permitted this legislated prejudice to stand.
When a wife is charged with killing her husband, why is it feminists come to her aid but when a man kills his wife, no one comes to his? Because men want all violent perpetrators to face justice while feminists want violent women portrayed as victims.
There are more than 100 solid scientific studies that reveal a
startlingly different picture of family violence than what we usually
see in the media.

Answer 5

I think that it is our patriarchal culture that causes men to not get as much assistance. DV against men goes unreported because men don't often report domestic violence in their homes. To so many, it is shameful to be battered by your wife, as you are supposed to be the stronger, more resilient spouse. Also, men are physically stronger then women, so, in theory, can inflict more fear and damage. I often wonder the same thing though about same sex partnerships, where domestic violence is also common. Why is that not addressed as much? I think it all comes down to how we box people in. I wouldn't blame all of that on feminists though (I'm not sure why feminist is such a bad word anyway), I would blame it on our social expectations for men and women.

Answer 6

BECAUSE WE CAN! Standard answer, I know, but often true. Yahoo Guidelines forbid leading others to sites away from Yahoo so be careful. Good Luck!

If you are IN an abusive situation, leave it. Men are stronger physically as a rule. At least those are the assumptions, albeit false in some unusual cases.

Answer 7

I am a feminist, and I am emphatically against domestic violence--PERIOD. I believe people should not use violence against each other, and that violence is even more contemptible when it occurs in what is supposed to be a mutually loving and supportive relationship.

Many feminists volunteer at homeless shelters strictly for men, and many feminists pioneered the laws which also do protect men.

As feminists aren't the ones in power in the government, but shelters are predominantly funded by the government, the problem with funding and addressing the problem of battered men lies with the government to a large degree. The same government doesn't wish to truly help ANY domestic violence victims, but would rather simply push the agenda of a "perfect" conventional family as though that will fix everything.

My question is: why blame feminists for domestic violence? Blame perpetrators--regardless of gender--and unite as a nation to promote non-violence. Is anyone up for that? Doubtful, as it's extremely hard and inconvenient. It's hard to stand up and tell our children hitting and abusive language won't be tolerated; who wants to tell their child to be polite in the lockerroom or absolutely stop swearing themselves?

Let's not blame feminists for abuse. Let's blame abusers for abuse.

Answer 8

Because feminist want to protect their "victim" status, which is a very powerful position to be in. From that position almost anything is acceptable because its just to "make things right". That's what Hitler did to great success in rallying his people,IE Mien Kompf (my struggle) and how Germans were oppressed and has to"regain their right full positions". Men can be victims too but are ashamed to admit it (unmasculine) and won't get the same response as women. A friend of mine years ago called police when his wife hit him repeatedly, the police officer said "you're a man, deal with it".

Answer 9

Yeah...personally I think a lot more women hit their husbands than husbands hit their wives.

Men don't suffer as much because...well, we just don't think if it as big of a deal. For men, I think it becomes a problem over the long term...it affects your esteem, confidence and reputation.

It's a double standard.

I guess we all need to realize that men and women are different...wow.

Answer 10

I do and I am a feminists, but that is not your real agenda is it? It's hating on people you do to even know.