Thanks to Rod Carveth for his thoughtful response. Rod, I sense that we probably agree on general points and disagree on specifics, but I appreciate the care and lucidity with which you've made your points. I'll continue to think about them. Alison McKee Department of Film and Television UCLA [log in to unmask] ------------------------------TEXT-OF-YOUR-MAIL-------------------------------- > To Alison > > In response to your post: > > 1) You indicate that "some" of the research on domestic violence indicates > that men can be victims, too. So as not to leave that statement hanging, > there is only "some" literature because until recently domestic violence > was automatically defined as violence against women. > > 2) We should always look at the context of research, as well as where the > research is coming from. But Murray Strauss and Richard Gelles have > never seemed to have any political agenda that should make us suspicious, > and Suzanne Steinmetz is a feminist. > > 3) Perhaps my statement about personal social reality was overstated. > On the other hand, your experience has shaped how you see the issue. > My experience has been different, and influences my perception. What > is "true" is something that we need to seek, and is not an exercise > in irresponsibility, as you hinted at in your first post. > > 4) Finally, on the discussion of statistics, consider the following: > over 90% of domestic violence reports come from women. How should > we treat that "fact?" That men are 9 times as likely as women to > abuse their partners? That men are AT LEAST 9 times as likely to abuse women > and that the figure is understated because women are reluctant to report > abuse? That men rarely report abuse, thus skewing the figures on > REPORTED incidents of domestic violence? > > A couple of other posts suggested that the "truth" about domestic violence > can be found in the "fact" of how many women popular shelters. Do men > also populate these shelters? If so, how many? Or, are they discouraged > from calling, because of either male socialization, or by how they are > treated if they do call the shelter (that is, would they be believed)? > > Anyway, if I inadvertently distorted what you said in your first post, > I apologize. > > Rod Carveth > University of Bridgeport