MALE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE FEATURED ON BBC BUT GOVERNMENT STILL PLAYS THE GENDER STEREOTYPE CARD

On Tuesday 10th Feb the BBC covered the issue of male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence extensively. The coverage featuring a victim and the ManKind Initiative (link) included BBC Radio 1 and 5 interviews  as well as other coverage - link, link, a phone-in, a blog, an editor's note and coverage across the regional network. 

This was based primarily on new Home Office figures (link) which show that 3.2 million men have been a victim in their lifetime (20% of men) and that 2.7 million men have been a victim of partner abuse. The BBC used the hook which showed figures highlighting that younger men (20-24) were more likely to be a victim than women of the same age.

One of the points made by the victim and others was the fact that as a man you are automatically arrested by the police and the ManKind Initiative stated that services for men were 35 years behind that for women. The Government, local authorities and the police are institutionally sexist.

In a bizarre sense of timing, the Government made an announcement that proves it (link).

On Tuesday, the Home Office teamed up with the British Banking Association, to give help to victims of domestic abuse and to help launch a small card for victims. The press release mentions and accepts that 3.2 million men are victims (a first) yet then falls back to the same old gender stereotypes:-

• It mentions a purse-sized credit card - not a purse or wallet sized credit card
• The quote from the Home Secretary only mentions women
• The quotes are only from groups that help women, none for men
• The actual credit card sized leaflet describes all victims as she, never he and she

What it shows is that the Government just does not get it. It may begrudgingly acknowledge the figures but it just cannot help itself and be gender -neutral.

The coverage on the BBC today was at least some recognition and this has gradually and glacially started to improve things but the Government are continually and wilfully burying their head in the sand.

Much work to do...

Comments

[John Kimble]

Almost as disturbing as the government's approach to the issue was the itv-tonight program on domestic violence.

Not one single of male victims throughout the whole half hour - I think they'd basically been told what to do by Women's Aid. Youc can still watch the program on itv's website.

We might not get anywhere with the government, but itv may listen. To me the problem seemed to be one of unprofessional and lazyness rather than any deliberate sexism as you get with the government.

[ian]

Its amazing to hear the fierce feminists outrage against men, this is the real problem, no one believes women are violent only men are the beasts?
I myself was in an abusive relationship she was very strong very fierce very convinced she was right very manipulative she made my life a hell. I stuck in there for as long as i could purely for my children. When i eventually left "in fear of my life" in court she was very convincing making out i was the perpetrator she even forged evidence against me made false accusations against me each time she did this it cost me a lot of money in legal and expert testimony to prove my innocence, and each time no action was ever taken against her. she did what she wanted in the legal system confident that she would suffer no repercussions. the result was I lost every thing. I was wealthy when I married her a self made man I left with nothing and I never saw my children again.

During my divorce I was arrested 3 times and each time spent thousands clearing my name. Never any action against her. I was the victim! And when I had lost everything she was not satisfied with that she perused me relentlessly with powerful lawyers and won huge awards against me I will never be able to pay now perusing me with bailiffs the abuse just goes on and on it never ends. The best bit is I am the second father she has done this to and even armed with this information the courts did nothing to help only helped her and her lawyers abuse and alienate me from my children. In all this woman has alienated permanently 3 children from 2 fathers. Two children who are now alone with an extremely abusive clever manipulative woman. they don’t stand a chance. Borderline narcissistic probably a psychopath “Well done women’s rights well done congratulations you have totally won!” you have succeeded in creating no equality for men. Again I can sympathise with the comments I would not have believed my story unless I had experienced it for myself, that’s one of our problems very few of us do get it until its too late. There really is no justice or support for men in the family law court.. NONE!

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