Male Privilege – An Oxymoron « J. Soltys’s Weblog

From – Male Privilege – An Oxymoron « J. Soltys’s Weblog

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After reading through what appeared to be equitable treatment of both male and female victims in this article, the moment of equity was shattered by the director of Violence Against Women Prevention at Harvard University School of Public Health, Jay G. Silverman.  His comment about this new research included this:

“Beyond concerns for these data representing the true state of [intimate partner violence] and associated health concerns,  this is certainly an important study.”

“Although women and girls suffer far higher rates of abuse, are far more likely to be injured, and far more likely to be killed by male partners than are men reporting abuse from women, there is a push from some professional quarters to equate these experiences and remove considerations of gender.”                          

If I am interpreting his comments correctly, what Mr. Silverman is really trying to say is, equating domestic violence as a public health concern – meaning gender neutral terminology – is at its best, a disservice to women, and at its worst, an insult to female victims of domestic violence. 

Again we see that sexism still reigns in domestic violence circles. Mr. Silverman and others like him are insulted at the inclusion of men and their children in the aggregate of those harmed by domestic violence. He and others engage, without hesitation, in treating female victims of domestic violence as they should be treated – as human beings. But sadly, these same people treat male victims of domestic violence and their children as simply numbers. They perceive the extension of their compassion and resources to be delegated by statistical numbers – mercy to those with a greater percentage sign, pity on those in the minority. 

Consider that most people who are affiliated in some way with domestic violence prevention, and/or research, are also stringent women rights advocates. These same people refuse to accept “playing the numbers game” when the numbers would discriminate against women, and place any hardships upon them in a given situation.