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Should domestic violence services be gender neutral? Should domestic violence services be gender neutral?
(about 3 hours later)
Polly Neate: Domestic violence is a gendered crimePolly Neate: Domestic violence is a gendered crime
At Women’s Aid we are often asked “what about the men?” While we are in no disagreement that men can and do experience domestic abuse, the vast majority of severe and repeated domestic violence – nearly 90% – is experienced by women. Increasing pressure for the provision of “gender neutral” services, both for refuge and outreach, is exacerbating the crisis of funding to specialist domestic violence services for women.At Women’s Aid we are often asked “what about the men?” While we are in no disagreement that men can and do experience domestic abuse, the vast majority of severe and repeated domestic violence – nearly 90% – is experienced by women. Increasing pressure for the provision of “gender neutral” services, both for refuge and outreach, is exacerbating the crisis of funding to specialist domestic violence services for women.
Domestic violence is a gendered crime; this should not be controversial. It is in very recent history that women were viewed legally as the possessions of men – 100 years ago women were not allowed to vote, and rape in marriage was only criminalised in England in 1991. 89% of those who experience more than one incident of physical violence are female; women are more likely than men to experience multiple forms of abuse; more likely to experience sexual abuse; and three-and-a-half times more likely to be killed by a partner or ex-partner. One in three female suicide attempts is related to present or previous domestic violence. Women are significantly more likely to experience the pattern of controlling and coercive behaviour that the Home Office defines as domestic violence, and therefore much more likely to need specialist support services, especially refuge services.Domestic violence is a gendered crime; this should not be controversial. It is in very recent history that women were viewed legally as the possessions of men – 100 years ago women were not allowed to vote, and rape in marriage was only criminalised in England in 1991. 89% of those who experience more than one incident of physical violence are female; women are more likely than men to experience multiple forms of abuse; more likely to experience sexual abuse; and three-and-a-half times more likely to be killed by a partner or ex-partner. One in three female suicide attempts is related to present or previous domestic violence. Women are significantly more likely to experience the pattern of controlling and coercive behaviour that the Home Office defines as domestic violence, and therefore much more likely to need specialist support services, especially refuge services.
None of this means that men don’t experience domestic violence, or need support. They do, and there should be provision for men who are affected. It does mean, though, that men and women will need different kinds of support: women are much more likely to need help to overcome sustained sexual abuse, for example. A higher proportion of the men who experience domestic violence than women are in same-sex relationships and will need appropriate support services which will be different to services for men who are being abused by a female partner.None of this means that men don’t experience domestic violence, or need support. They do, and there should be provision for men who are affected. It does mean, though, that men and women will need different kinds of support: women are much more likely to need help to overcome sustained sexual abuse, for example. A higher proportion of the men who experience domestic violence than women are in same-sex relationships and will need appropriate support services which will be different to services for men who are being abused by a female partner.
Many of the women we help would not leave their abusive relationship if the only option was going to a gender-neutral refuge. Domestic violence can be extremely traumatic, and as a result, many women will not feel completely safe in the presence of men when they have just left an abusive partner. Perpetrators can be extremely manipulative, and a gender-neutral refuge poses a risk as a perpetrator claiming to be a victim of domestic violence could potentially access the refuge his victim has fled to. This is of particular concern where there is only one local service.Many of the women we help would not leave their abusive relationship if the only option was going to a gender-neutral refuge. Domestic violence can be extremely traumatic, and as a result, many women will not feel completely safe in the presence of men when they have just left an abusive partner. Perpetrators can be extremely manipulative, and a gender-neutral refuge poses a risk as a perpetrator claiming to be a victim of domestic violence could potentially access the refuge his victim has fled to. This is of particular concern where there is only one local service.
The challenge is that we currently have is a widespread perception that domestic violence is gender neutral. Statistics from the ONS suggesting that one in four women and one in six men will experience domestic violence have led to a belief that men and women will need support at roughly equal levels. Yet this data relates to the number of people who have ever experienced a single incident of physical violence from an intimate partner or family member – it does not provide us with any further information. It doesn’t tell us how many people are living in fear of their partner, or experiencing a pattern of abusive behaviour. When commissioning decisions are made on the basis that domestic violence is gender neutral there is a double-whammy effect on women’s services. Not only are budgets being cut overall, but also councils are demanding that a proportion of the smaller budgets are diverted to supporting men. Some of our member services report having to devote increasing proportions of their income to advertising to and supporting male victims, despite low levels of men contacting them for help. They contrast this with having to turn increasing numbers of vulnerable women away, despite rarely advertising their women’s services.The challenge is that we currently have is a widespread perception that domestic violence is gender neutral. Statistics from the ONS suggesting that one in four women and one in six men will experience domestic violence have led to a belief that men and women will need support at roughly equal levels. Yet this data relates to the number of people who have ever experienced a single incident of physical violence from an intimate partner or family member – it does not provide us with any further information. It doesn’t tell us how many people are living in fear of their partner, or experiencing a pattern of abusive behaviour. When commissioning decisions are made on the basis that domestic violence is gender neutral there is a double-whammy effect on women’s services. Not only are budgets being cut overall, but also councils are demanding that a proportion of the smaller budgets are diverted to supporting men. Some of our member services report having to devote increasing proportions of their income to advertising to and supporting male victims, despite low levels of men contacting them for help. They contrast this with having to turn increasing numbers of vulnerable women away, despite rarely advertising their women’s services.
Funding decisions should be based on need. There should be separate, safe services for male victims tailored to the needs of the men who require them. But this should not be at the expense of services for women and children, who make up the vast majority of high-risk cases and are the most likely to be killed. Gender-neutral services are not a safe or effective solution for anyone.Funding decisions should be based on need. There should be separate, safe services for male victims tailored to the needs of the men who require them. But this should not be at the expense of services for women and children, who make up the vast majority of high-risk cases and are the most likely to be killed. Gender-neutral services are not a safe or effective solution for anyone.
Glen Poole: Male victims need help and support, tooGlen Poole: Male victims need help and support, too
How do we ensure that everyone affected by domestic violence gets the help and support they need? This is a social problem that no society has resolved, but that doesn’t mean we should ever stop trying. In recent years there has been a notable rise in prosecutions of both male and female perpetrators and a marked reduction in domestic violence incidents. The progress we have made calls for us to both celebrate and redouble our efforts, because every individual victim is one too many. One of the major challenges we face in trying to end domestic violence is that almost every new solution brings with it a new set of problems.How do we ensure that everyone affected by domestic violence gets the help and support they need? This is a social problem that no society has resolved, but that doesn’t mean we should ever stop trying. In recent years there has been a notable rise in prosecutions of both male and female perpetrators and a marked reduction in domestic violence incidents. The progress we have made calls for us to both celebrate and redouble our efforts, because every individual victim is one too many. One of the major challenges we face in trying to end domestic violence is that almost every new solution brings with it a new set of problems.
For many years, a key solution was (and still is) to approach domestic violence as a gendered problem that should be addressed as part of a wider global campaign to end violence against women and girls. The problem this particular approach creates is that it clearly excludes male victims.For many years, a key solution was (and still is) to approach domestic violence as a gendered problem that should be addressed as part of a wider global campaign to end violence against women and girls. The problem this particular approach creates is that it clearly excludes male victims.
For many men’s rights advocates, the answer to the problems caused by the gendered approach is to create an idealistic “gender-neutral” one, where all victims are helped equally, irrespective of their gender. In my experience, service providers born out of the women’s movement are not generally well placed to help men. One of the important roles that the women’s movement has played in helping female victims is that they have been loud and unapologetic advocates for women. With the best will in the world, it is unrealistic to expect the self-same campaigners to be strident advocates for men. They may also be prone to underplay the significance of female violence against men.For many men’s rights advocates, the answer to the problems caused by the gendered approach is to create an idealistic “gender-neutral” one, where all victims are helped equally, irrespective of their gender. In my experience, service providers born out of the women’s movement are not generally well placed to help men. One of the important roles that the women’s movement has played in helping female victims is that they have been loud and unapologetic advocates for women. With the best will in the world, it is unrealistic to expect the self-same campaigners to be strident advocates for men. They may also be prone to underplay the significance of female violence against men.
To ensure that everyone affected by domestic violence gets the help and support they need we need as many different minds on the job as possible. We need women and men; feminists and non-feminists; men’s advocates and women’s advocates; psychologists and sociologists. But attempts to approach tackling domestic violence from a non-feminist perspective (as many advocates for male victims do) is often fiercely resisted, and as the Centre for Social Justice’s Beyond Violence report noted, “the ‘patriarchy, power and control’ analysis remains more or less intact despite its incompatibility with emerging findings about domestic abuse”. To ensure that everyone affected by domestic violence gets the help and support they need we need as many different minds on the job as possible. We need women and men; feminists and non-feminists; men’s advocates and women’s advocates; psychologists and sociologists. But attempts to approach tackling domestic violence from a non-feminist perspective (as many advocates for male victims do) are often fiercely resisted, and as the Centre for Social Justice’s Beyond Violence report noted, “the ‘patriarchy, power and control’ analysis remains more or less intact despite its incompatibility with emerging findings about domestic abuse”.
My personal experience of helping male victims of domestic violence has shown me that men too need a gendered approach, and more importantly they need advocates who understand their unique needs and are happy to be on their side. One of the most reassuring developments in recent years has been the growth and emergence of charities such as the Mankind Initiative and Abused Men in Scotland, who have helped to push the needs of male victims up the public and political agenda. My personal experience of helping male victims of domestic violence has shown me that men too need a gendered approach, and more importantly they need advocates who understand their unique needs and are happy to be on their side. One of the most reassuring developments in recent years has been the growth and emergence of charities such as the ManKind Initiative and Abused Men in Scotland, who have helped to push the needs of male victims up the public and political agenda.
This is good news for the domestic violence sector, which doesn’t simply need more funding – though this is always welcome – but ultimately needs more diversity, and in particularly a diversity of thinking that welcomes non-feminist approaches to helping victims of all genders. This is good news for the domestic violence sector, which doesn’t simply need more funding – though this is always welcome – but ultimately needs more diversity, and in particular a diversity of thinking that welcomes non-feminist approaches to helping victims of all genders.
As with all new solutions to the eternal problem of violence in the home, attempting to diversify the sector will bring with it a whole heap of new problems, but it is a challenge that we must be open to facing if we are serious about ensuring that every individual affected by domestic violence gets the help they need and deserve.As with all new solutions to the eternal problem of violence in the home, attempting to diversify the sector will bring with it a whole heap of new problems, but it is a challenge that we must be open to facing if we are serious about ensuring that every individual affected by domestic violence gets the help they need and deserve.