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Last year, the number of Oregonians killed by domestic violence increased more than 60 percent. One women's crisis service says the trend is of epidemic proportions. But though the numbers appear to be rising, it is often difficult for society to recognize signs of domestic violence. Abusers seek power and control over their victims who, perhaps out of fear or shame, sometimes conceal the real cause of their injury with a false story. Domestic violence thrives on secrets, but one crisis line in the Willamette Valley received a record 14,300 calls last year — up from an average of 10,000, which may indicate that more people are speaking up and seeking help.
Even so, proposed legislation that seeks funding to track patterns of domestic violence fatalities in this state may face an uphill battle with budget constraints. Are you a survivor of domestic violence? Have you supported someone who has been abused? What do these new statistics mean to you?
GUESTS:
- Robin Kandel: Domestic violence survivor
- Molli Mitchell: Residential services manager at Bradley-Angle House
- Jayne Downing: Executive director of the Mid-Valley Women's Crisis Service
- Paul Holvey: Oregon representative of District 8
Tagged as: domestic · recession · violence
Photo credit: nicdallc / Creative Commons
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Increased reporting could be a factor, too! While in college, as part of a group project, I had occasion to research the rates of certain violent crimes against persons, and found out that the FBI estimates that for every forcible rape that is reported, there may be as many as FIVE that went un-reported. And that is actually DOWN from prior years, where unreported rapes were an even bigger proportion of those that occurred.
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Was looking for the actual numbers, got them, thanks.
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To Penny, aboe,
I'm sure you are right about under reporting. That has always been the situation. (I've recently read that in some cities domestic violence calls are not being responded to with house calls by police.)
Maybe more young women are willing today to expose themselves to the law and courts in cases of sexual assault. However, my own view is that it is now more common. Young women take more chances today. Drugs and booze play a role. Whereas when I was a youth young ladies didn't routinely drink alcohol on dates. In fact even in the service in the fifties gals in San Diego were very chary of having more than one drink when out with a Marine or sailor. No young man among my buddies would ever have mistreated a woman in any way whatever.
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I think it interesting that we talk of declining violent crime, yet domestic abuse is rising. Maybe if we aren't in nightclubs and bars causing havoc, we may be found at home letting off steam?
Ten Major Factors of Domestic Violence:
1. The Recession. Financial problems lead to marital strife.
2. Rising Alcohol Consumption. Oregon is seeing peak sales in Craft Lager and Pinot Noir. Is there a downside to high alcohol sales?
3. Lack of medical care in particular mental health coverage. Are there any un-medicated schizophrenics in Tucson? 40% of women will suffer major depression in their life.
4. Unemployment staycations in a bottle lead to cabin fever. People do not go out, go on vacation, or take mental holidays. See movie, The Shining--yes it was filmed in Oregon.
5. The Recession, or Mancession, has hit men more severely. 70% of the job losses have been in male dominated industries. The loss of identity and gender dis-empowerment leads them to lash out domestically.
6. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder on chronically stressed population: The Tucson Shooting, Under Pants Christmas Bomber, The Times Square Bomber, The Pioneer Square Bomber, Two Wars, Global Warming, The End of Oil, The 3rd Blizzard of the Year, Flooding Rains in Sandy, The Haiti Earthquake, The Great Recession, Record National Debt, TSA Molesting Aggressive Pat Downs, the Constant Threat of Terrorism and the price of Starbucks going up.
7. The Disintegration of the Institution of Marriage. 50% of all marriages end in divorce. Young people invest more long term in their tattoos than in their marriage.
8. The Downsizing of the American Dream: Home ownership, promising career, lifelong employment, healthcare insurance, and retirement are getting scarcer.
9. Crowded households with MultiGenerational families. Yes there is a lot of relationship dysfunction in families. Yes, some relatives just do not like each other. Put them in a three bedroom house, and watch sparks fly. It gets worse if the bank is threatening foreclosure at any moment.
10. Loss of Hope in the Future. The most famous 22 year old in the nation is a community college drop out who will never have to work a day in his life and will get guaranteed three square meals a day and health care. Unlike other 22 year olds, his life is planned. And his name is renowned.
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Ironically if a woman is found dead and homicide is suspected, the husband is guilty in over 70% of the cases. Remember OJ Simpson? Robert "Baretta" Blake? Phil Spector? The Happy Widow? 'Honor Killings' in Islamic Countries?
CSI and other Crime TV shows distorts the truth when they portray random serial killers as being commonplace.
In most cases of homicide, a spouse should simply look across the aisle to see their future killer.......You don't have to be Nostrodamus. Nor would we need a psychic trio of Minority Report catching pre-crime to make society safer.
-Yes it is the happiest day of your life, but......
-'Til Death do you part, that is the contract. Some people just hate breaking contracts.
-Yes, Marriage is the Ultimate Mixed Blessing.
-And Gays WANT to be married?
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Ironically if a woman is found dead and homicide is suspected, the husband is guilty in over 70% of the cases. Remember OJ Simpson? Robert "Baretta" Blake? Phil Spector? The Happy Widow? 'Honor Killings' in Islamic Countries?
CSI and other Crime TV shows distorts the truth when they portray random serial killers as being commonplace. -- jacob — Thu Jan. 20th 12:03p.m.
Actually, if you pay attention to the storyline in most murder/violent crime mystery shows (CSI, Law & Order), they usually start with the spouse and other family members first, even if they ultimately find another person to be the 'Perp," or perpetrator. On other shows, such as Criminal Minds, the serial killer often is a stranger.
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It was my understanding that domestic abuse isn't rooted in any of these kinds of factors - that these are only the superficial causes. Domestic abuse isn't an anger-management problem (or stress-management, or hopelessness-management) but a worldview problem.
Men who abuse their female partners don't also abuse their bosses, coworkers or friends - even when they're very stressed or angry or hopeless in their presence. In fact, they *do* have the ability to self-regulate. The problem then is that they view their female partners as subordinate in some way, and proceed to use them as a scapegoat. Otherwise, why wouldn't the problem go both ways? Are women less stressed by the economic recession? No.
Of course domestic violence isn't exclusively male-to-female, but almost entirely. I feel that the causes listed above only serve to excuse the men guilty of abusing their partners.
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Jacob,
Could you please cite the researchers who have come up with these 10 major i am gathering contributors to domestic violence?
Policy typically isn't passed without some research based knowledge. I mean no disrespect but we should consider educating ourselves on the topic. I must say I may not be updated, could i have their names?
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A common question is, “does the recession make
domestic violence more prevalent?” The answer is that during
a recession when people are out of work they often spend
more time at home. A batterer who is home has more time
to coerce, threaten and assault his victim. For a victim it
is harder to leave the relationship during a recession
because leaving may mean quitting her job and/or losing
the financial security that comes along with staying with
the batterer.Very few people who are out-of-work or losing their home even consider taking someone else’s life. Violence is a choice. Batterers believe that they have the right to control someone else, including the ultimate right to control whether that person lives or dies.
What can you do, if you know someone in an abusive
relationship? Your first instinct may be to tell her to “get
out yesterday.” But wait. Leaving is the most dangerous
time. The batterer feels thwarted in his entitlement for
control, so he is likely to escalate and become even more
violent. He is probably threatening to hurt her, the children,
family members, friends, co-workers. He’s proven he will
carry out his threats. She believes she is protecting all
those people by staying.Leaving an abusive relationship is not an event, it is a
process. It can sometimes be a long process. How to stay
safe needs to be very carefully thought out. Even if you
would not make the same choices that she does, give her
your support. She is in the best position to make decisions
for herself and her children. -
It is an imperfect world. I learned that harsh lesson many yrs ago in Third World countries. Not every wrong can be righted not every evil act averted. We can spend our resources and time and energy trying to protect everyone from everything. It's impossible. Sure, humane people would like to see Govt take action against every social ill, organize groups, give everyone good advice, place all potential wife and child beaters in jail, provide safe havens for battered women etc. etc. But we would run out of both resources, energy and time long before we protected every woman in a bad marriage or relationship.
People in the US will have to learn NOT to be dependent on govt to solve every personal problem. Like everyone else on the planet we will have to learn to live with our errors and poor choices. It is evident that if there were a tidy, affordable solution to wife beating and child abuse both would be declining in frequency. But they are not. And the Lord knows we have been allocating substantial resources for many years to stamp out both.
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Domestic violence is related to women's status in society, and unfortunately the USA continues to be a culture of misogyny.
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If you are a survivor of domestic violence, or know someone who is a survivor, there is free, confidential help avialable. Go to http://www.ocadsv.org/OCADSV_SheltersAndServices_Map.asp for a list of services available in every county in Oregon.
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Sometimes you just have realize you can’t do anything, and perhaps, shouldn't even bother trying. A relative has been in one abusive relationship after another, and now keeps returning to the same abusive guy over and over again. I kept trying to be encouraging, and do all those things that one does to get her away from him, but to what end? I really thought I was the person that could change things, that I had the knowledge to do so---no go! I began to realize she gets off on this as much as he does, they are both sick, and it is sad, but it is the way it is. Bad things don’t discriminate, they happen to us all, the 'good' and the 'bad' people, equally.
There are few of us that are only victims, unless we encounter a random act of violence, or are in some extraordinary circumstances. I began to realize this relationship is what my relative wants, or needs, perhaps this is an addiction of sorts, and perhaps his violence is an addiction of its own. Two addicts in some haphazard bliss. It is fair to say she is ‘more’ of a victim then he is because she is generally the recipient---that is, until the call comes that the police are at her apartment because she beat him up when she found texts on his phone from another woman. There are very few people in the world eating meals they didn’t order. It doesn’t mean we shouldn't be sympathetic and empathetic, but we also shouldn’t rush in with the overzealous commiserating and pity. Who are we to pity anyway? Just, how well are we doing?
What ultimately seems to be the saddest part about domestic violence is not the actual abuse, but rather the desperation that allows one to receive it, that there is such a strong need to feel some-kind of love that we are willing to accept it in order to hold onto the relationship. I don’t think people ask or are to blame for being the recipient of violence, but I do question their judgment and really their overall taste if they get into a relationship with the person in the first place. What kind of relationship could you possibly have if you go into it with no idea that the person you have chosen is violent? In the end, all the people involved need help.
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DENIAL IS NOT JUST A RIVER IN EGYPT.
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let NO ONE mistake this as any kind of apologist view:
but consider this: there is are some, if not many, women who do much to engage and amplify whatever it is that makes men turn to violence. They whine, they moan, they accuse, they threaten, they call names, they demean, they ask for the impossible, they threaten to leave, they tell lies, they exaggerate, they allow others to jump to conclusions and do nothing to right the misperceptions, and they do seldom take responsibility for their own actions until too late, if ever. At least some women.
I grew up with a mother like this, and she destroyed my father. For years I blamed my dad, and had really conflictive feelings about him. As an adult, as I got to know my mother, I realized what had really happened. She was manipulative, accusative, demeaning, could discuss nothing intelligently, told stories, not the truth, in public, did never clear up misconceptions of others as long as those benefited her. Basically she was a conniving backstabber.
I have since cut off relations from this woman. I realized her behavior and engagement with me as a child was never as nurturing as what my dad tried to do. It was she who was the acid that ate away at me, not my dad, who tried very hard, and he was the one who suffered in silence and humiliation.
I am tired of hearing women moan about, when i can hear in their voice what it is they do to men.
My opinion is, not that they deserve it, those who are injured, but there’s a good chance they participated in causing the behavior, and without forgiving the men who were not so driven mad, as it were, that these sort of women need to be held responsible, rather than this automatic “blame the man, he’s a beast” attitude
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Victim precipitation. How excellent. No worries, I would not take what you say as an apology. You afterall have done nothing wrong. It was her. It was her the whole time. I do unlike you apologize. I apologize to those who have to see once again the society that we live in, the individuals that surround us. I apologize to every victim that has to read this. So no worries. I will apologize for you. The ignorance and victim blaming that you have exhibited is what gives fuel to victimizers. We all know that manipulative people exist, no matter the gender. That is not the discussion that is taking place.
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dear cici
you don't have a clue
so please apologize for yourself, and try yourself not to tell others what the conversation is or is not about when it seems apparent from your responses that you are somewhat after-the-fact and not willing to accept a different perspective because it does not fit your preconceived notions
also, try to improve your vocabulary - it's difficult to comment on something when one has not understood the words that were used, whether used correctly or incorrectly.
Maybe after you've had a bit more of a life, eh?
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Hello scottmil,
I am not denying that both need counseling, but I do not think that you can say that "she gets off on it".
Most relationships do not start off as physically violent. It usually starts with subtle emotional and verbal abuse, which is often a way for the abuser to "prime" the victim--to desensitize the abused person.
There are many reasons why women stay in abusive relationships, but NO ONE DESERVES TO BE ABUSED! I don't think you should pity anyone, but I hope that you would try to understand it from the victim's perspective.
Please do not give up on your relative; sometimes it takes women years to find the courage, and self-esteem to end the cycle of violence. Her life may depend on it.
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Maybe you are right, I can’t accurately say ‘she gets off on it.’ Not the violence that is, but she certainly gets off on the relationship because she stays with it. We don’t need to, paint this black and white picture about the relationship, the righteous person and the evil person (which I am also too often inclined to do). It is fair to say that in few circumstances do mentally ‘healthy’ people hook up and get ‘primed’ by a one-sided abuser. Yes, all parties are to blame, if anyone is to blame! And, how exactly did the man become violent in the first place, at some point he may also have been a victim, and something probably contributed to his developing violent tendencies.
I definitely question the relationship from the start, what sort of person gets involved with someone who is violent to begin with, how strong and intimate could this relationship be? I don’t believe for a second that these events are generally random (of course there are exceptions), and that holistically intelligent, mentally healthy women enter into relationships with madmen. I am not saying this takes away responsibility from the inflicter, or justifies any of the behaviour, but we definitely need to stop this coddling of people we see as victims, these lopsided irrational approaches to treatment don’t help them. Overly sympathetic therapies do not work. Therapies that try to boost the person up, by making all kinds of claims that the plane just happened to fall from the sky on the poor unsuspecting victim. If everything around me is black, then, well, I automatically appear as a shining star---but this is a farce, these approaches may get the person through a bad patch, but they are artificial and detrimental solutions that end up inflicting their own kind of damage.
Of course no one deserves to be abused, and no one deserves to allow themselves to be abused, and no one deserves to turn into an abuser. Surely being an abuser is not a healthy way of life, the abuser doesn’t deserves this path either.
I haven’t given-up, I just don’t actively care anymore, I see the relationship for what it is, two people tangoing. No one is being held against their will, she could have gotten out a million times, and for that matter so could he. Yes, I personally think she should want more from life, she should want a better relationship, but that is what I want for her, not what she wants. Perhaps you could claim she should be taught to want other things, maybe so, but I can’t provide that kind of education---and who really can? I don’t think you could ever claim ‘she wants out but doesn’t know how!,’ no, really, the problem would be more like: she doesn’t know how, to want out, bad, or strongly, enough---her desire to stay must overpower her desire to leave, otherwise she would have been gone long ago.
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"Power and Control"
Ayup.
If your parents spanked you or verbally abused you as a child, you are a victim of domestic violence. The range starts from an open handed pat on the butt and goes all the way through that Oklahoma woman a few years ago who drowned her children in the bathtub to save them from "Satan".
King Solomon established the state sanction of the use of domestic violence with his "Spare the rod and spoil the child". In my opinion, that is the foundation of the idea of "Power and Control" through domestic violence.
I would like to see parents and churches taught the use of positive reinforcement psychology for training children and also taught that King Solomon was so devastatingly wrong about "spare the rod and spoil the child" and very variant of that idea.
King Solomon trained parents to be abusers and trained their children to be victims, to think they deserve it.
Let's change the metaphor.
Prevention, prevention, prevention.
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My mother was the victim of domestic violence. Luckily she was able to get away. It was a combination of tough love and support that helped her escape the abuse. Victims of domestic abuse are prisoners of the mental abuse that their abusers dish out. Getting away from my father was the best thing she has ever done for my brothers and me.
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I am so happy for your family. You must think very highly of your mother. It takes a lot of courage and strength to leave these situations. What a wonderful empowering female figure to have to identify with. Always remember that her strenght is a part of you.
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There are abusers who control their victim without using physical violence. I lived in such a relationship for 10 years, and he often made me thank him for not hitting me. As in almost all cases of domestic violence, the abuse fell into a predictable cycle of escalation and crisis and "honeymoon." Some of the things he did to me were unbelievably cruel, but he didn't hit me so it must not be domestic violence, right? I felt unworthy of domestic violence services because he did not use physical violence.
He told me that if I ever tried to leave him he would "become one of those crazy people" who would pursue me and / or take away my child. I did eventually leave, and he used the full force of his economic resources to perpetrate 10 years of a legal custody harangue against me, and to use the full force of his coercion to influence my child's thinking and life.
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I had lived through emotional abuse. I was living with someone I thought was the love of my life and did not realize the my life was not normal. She made demands on me that would change and I could never live up to her standards. The bar was set higher each time I did reach her goals. I would be yelled at an demoralized if the cup handles were not all facing the same direction when I did the dishes. I was constantly reminded how I didn't live up to her standards. All the way to the last day we were together I was accused of lying to her when I know I didn't. This person would push my buttons over and over and over which would lead to me yelling at the top of my lungs "Leave me alone"! And then she would acuse me of abusing her because I yelled. This person left me with emotional scars that still are a part of me today, 11 years later and affects my ability for self worth. I have been beaten down emotionally so much that I don't want to date because I feel I have nothing to offer.
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Great exchanges on the problem and potential causes... would like to here more about solutions... do we (hardly an exhaustive list):
> Take a preventative approach and try to remove our collective favorite causes of violence (Jacob and others have provided lists)... the downside may be a world reminiscent of Orwell's 1984.
> Take a prescriptive approach and medicate broadly? Soma anyone?
> Take a theraputic approach... something along the lines of a psychiatric entrance exam requirement for adulthood (fail and you're held back for more therapy).
> Take an evolutionary approach and sterilize all convicted of a violent offense so that violent genes/memes are passed on to as few as possible? *Acknowleged as a radical approach*
My point is that I'd like to know how to fix this and how much it would cost. Otherwise we're going to sit here once a year and commiserate about the plight of the people impacted (again and again).
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Its unfortunate, but we are going to be here year after year talking about this. Lets be honest, we are never going to be a violent free society. Violence is going to exist. What we can do is continue year after year talking about it, educating ourselves about it with the hopes of creating a society that really understands it for its complexity and sometimes irrational nature. Domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault and all the social ills that exist today will unfortunately have a place in society forever. The objective here is reduction, understanding, services and options for individuals and families who suffer from these violent victimizations. We still live in a society that just does not understand what domestic violence is all about. To a certain extent its really not their fault. Its complicated, very complicated. The only thing that i can do as a survivor of violence is speak out with the hopes that people will listen. We wont reach everyone but even with your thoughts of frustration (as i perceive it) you are listening. Keep listening. We need your support.
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Sad to say, but a good sound eugenics program would solve many of society's seemingly intractable social problems. It's funny to think that selected breeding for desired characteristics by horse, cattle, hog and pet breeders is accepted as based on valid genetic science. Which it is. But just suggest the application of the same principles to the human animal and all hell breaks loose. So we put up with the results of radom reproduction, and the ones reproducing at the greatest rate are precisely the ones which cause the greatest harm and cost to society.
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I am amazed at how the conversation can easily be switched where the woman is abusing the guy. The abuse fell short of physical in my case - but not by much - but all of the clues like control, emotional abuse (withhold affection and/or sex - hint at visiting old lovers, etc.) and especially skillful manipulation via charm and sexiness.
I would like to see a show on how there are women who abuse men, how they can be spotted early enough, and how to get support to leave.
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"how they can be spotted early enough"... Listen closely to objective observers of the relationship.
"how to get support to leave"... get a good relationship therapist who is linked to a personal therapist.
Voice of experience...
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One of the very best ways to prevent or at least reduce domestic violence is to change how we raise children. Children learn and become what they live with. When kids see angry abusive behaviors, words, and violence as the norm they internalize that and it becomes normal. When violence and the inevitable cycle of cover up or rationalization afterward is the standard or allowed in the home the children soak it up like a sponge. It does unbelievable damage that can take years or a lifetime to repair, and then the relationships that those kids grow up to have are also affected.
Kindness, respect, non violence, coping techniques that don't involve scaring people. This is what kids need.
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Do you watch TV, our films?, Have you read anything about the video games sold to people in this country? Have you watched war footage? What is it about our society you don't understand?? We are as a people extraordinarily violent. Just ask about that in S.E. Asia or the Mideast or in Latin America. All of which regional countries have had a taste of our penchant for applying force to solve every problom...even those unrelated to any legitimate national interest.
How is it possible to exist and rear children in the US and remain insolated from the endemic violence we find all round us? Of course it is affecting the children! It doesn't need mom and dad pounding on each other to reinforce a message the kids see in every aspect of the greater society around them.
We are addicted to violence. Needless to say it doesn't help to see mom and dad whacking each other. But to believe that a disorderly home life is the MAJOR cause of violence being perpetuated in Americian families is to be disingenuous.
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From what I've read and studied it sounds to me like Molli Mitchell and Jayne Downing really know their stuff about this.
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I'm a survivor. I lived in Central Oregon when this happened. While the advice of going to a shelter is valuable, people should realize that in the rural part of the state shelters are not always an option. I was fortunate enough to have friends who let me sleep on their couch for six months until I saved up enough money for an apartment of my own.
For those who may not realize how long the effects of domestic violence last, this happened 25 years ago and I still today cannot have someone put their hands on me without freaking out. I take medication and have undergone cognitive behavior therapy but my ability to form close relationships is limited because I am scared of people.
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Growing up, my father was verbally abusive to my mother, but the physical abuse was directed at my sister and me. One aspect of domestic violence I did not hear on this show relates to how abusers may control the family through the family's pets. My father became irritated by our kittens mewing around my sister's feet, and took out a gun and began shooting at them. He didn't hit anything that time, but my sister was completely terrorized. Another time, he shot a dog we had just adopted. The dog kept trying to come back to us, and he kept shooting until it was dead. We wouldn't have dared to leave, first out of fear that he would kill us, and second out of fear he would kill our other pets.
I believe that it is crucial that domestic violence shelters offer options for caring for the pets of those fleeing violence; otherwise, the victims may remain in the situation because of their pets.
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Having the opportunity to voice ones opinion I think is important. What saddens me is the fact that even with the knowledge provided to our community members by outreach programs, governmental agencies, researcher’s findings in the field of victimology and criminology and even from victims retelling their stories we are obviously not doing something right. All of this madness of
“when I was young…” (When you were young unfortunately domestic violence was considered a family problem, it was no one’s business. To say you never knew anyone who was a perpetrator or victim of domestic violence is, well a little absurd. I will state that you are not directly to blame for such a thought process, but you are responsible as a citizen of this community and this country to find out more about the ailments that effect it. The question would be: do you have the ability to work beyond the biases and ignorance of your time and move to a more productive state of being, so that change can occur for you and for the generations to come? You are after all our elder; you have the wisdom that comes with having lived and experienced life. That does come with some responsibility.)
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and maybe you'll know what responsibility is someday, rather than just knowing how to spell it
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..
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According to data found on Internet, (study reported in 1994) women battered men in 38-to 50% of reported occurances. That same yr 1.3 million women were victims of DV while 836,000 males were attacked by their partners (presemably females..uncertain in Oregon). Only 1.65% of ER visits related to DV. All forms of violence made up just 5% of ER visits.
Of 1000 women surveyed for reasons why they initiated DV against partners, these number were presented.
1. Partner not sensitive to my needs 46%
2. To gain partner's attention..44%
3. Partner not listening to me 43%.
(Multiple reasons given in most cases)
Some of this data was collected from the US, Canada and the UK. Unsure which.
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I really don't know where this data is coming from. We must be very careful when quoting or trying to site internet sources. In order to get information that is reliable we must investigate the site. The Center for Disease Control has a very different story than the one described above.
"According to the CDC report, health care costs associated with each incident of IPV were $948 in cases where women were the victims and $387 in cases where men were the victims. The study also found that domestic violence against women results in more emergency room visits and inpatient hospitalizations, including greater use of physician services than domestic violence where men are the victims."
Women are most often (overwhelmingly so) the victims of domestic violence. Not that it doesn't happen to men, because it does. I don't think anyone would negate the fact that domestic violence is unacceptable whether done to a woman or man.
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MenWeb is not a reliable source. We cannot take this information as vaild. I don't even know who Mr. Bert H. Hoff is?
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As with everything related to presentation of data on the Internet it is suspect until supported by other studies. We all know that if one invests enough time one will always find some supporting data for almost every point of view on every event or situation. Being now intrigued by the issue, I will do a tad more research. My first wife attacked me three times, physically in a 25 yr marriage. Once with a pair of sissors and the second time with a tennis racket. The third time with tiny fists. The other wife went for me physically a few times, but was successfully fended off. In no instance was the lady harmed in the insuing struggles.
Never in my life have I struck a woman. But I have held off a couple of females who would have done me damage had they not been restrained. Both ladies in question held graduate degrees, and were very bright. Neither used alchohol or drugs and the assaults took place in the day time with no extenuating circumstances except living with me. What task I must be honest and admit can not have been easy much of the time. (I believe I have an irritating personality)
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Does OPB even employ an unbiased investigative reporter any longer? Your program should contain all the facts and not hearsay evidence from several angry females. The facts are DV has been decreasing dramatically since mid-1970 yet budgets for the Oregon Justice Department, DHS, Judges, Lawyers, and women’s support groups has increased a thousand fold. Men and Women initiate domestic violence at equal rates. The largest number of victims of domestic violence also encounters the most discrimination to receiving assistance “the exclusion of men is the norm”. The CDC has well documented that DV is more common among certain groups such as lower income families, unmarried couples, and gay and lesbian couples. But no matter how you assess the survey’s you will not find the true facts that DV among gay and lesbian couples far out passes that of normal heterosexual relationships. There is no money in that form of violence. Try to find a DV shelter if you are gay, lesbian, or a Father. Try to find representation in court if you are one of the previous three groups. The bottom line is of course, Our Children. Without children there would be No economic incentive.
Their are many with The DOJ and others consisting of The DHS, Judges, lawyers, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, mediators, and counselors all having other people’s children in their best interests. Their services are activated only with the dissolution of families and the removal of parents. Whatever pieties they may proclaim all of their earnings are derived from the harm they can inflict upon our children. How can we address our children’s future, education, the high school drop-out rate, teen pregnancy, drug abuse and domestic violence when our state pays hundreds of millions of dollars to support those whose overriding interests is having children separated from their parents. It is no wonder that these “officials” are the second leading cause of bankruptcy in Oregon. As Governor Kitzhaber starts his third term I hope he will work with us to help limit the funding of this hidden governmental and quasi-governmental machine and restore Oregon back to we the people.
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Ahhh... I'm going out on a limb here, but changing demographics, the drug and booze culture, the rise of an unemployed and unemployable underclass all seem to fit the likely list of suspects. The violence routinely depicted in TV, films and now the horrificly violent video games that our children and their child-like fathers play must also contribute to the problem.
I suppose the US being now a nation dedicated to unending war and generations of young men returning home from the wars with derailed emotions, brain damage and no jobs can't help but be another factor in the rising rates of domestic violence.