Violence against women committed by men, is horrible. It's degrading and dehumanizing. Does anybody doubt this? No? Didn't think so.
So now I have a question: Why do we have the Violence Against Women Act? OK, two questions: (& 1/2) Is violence against women worse than violence against men? How about children?
Fine, make that three: (& 1/2.) What about violence against women committed by other women?
Gosh, where could I be going with this?
I'm all for punishing violence, and preventing it, but I don't see the point of making "violence against women" special. First, it implies that women are "first class citizens", and men and children are, well,
not. Second, it implies that women aren't capable of protecting themselves. Bullshit, on both counts. So again, why the VAWA?
Because we like to make "feel-good" laws based on knee-jerk emotional reactions rather than logic. Because when we see the results of violence, this is typical of what we think:
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"Oh my God, you poor thing! Don't worry, he'll never touch you again."
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"Wow. Dude. You REALLY pissed her off this time, didn't you?"
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...or maybe
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"Suck it up, man - don't be such a pussy!"
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| "Girl, you gotta take those kids and GO!" |
Excellent analysis. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Two of my sons were in abusive relationships. Laws and attitudes were NOT in their favor. Big bucks for good lawyers solved the problems. Those that don't have the money for good legal representation get hammered.
ReplyDeleteYou're really going to piss off the ninnies with this one, Suz.
ReplyDeleteThe feminist thought-police are surrounding your house as we speak.
'Sokay, B, I'm well armed.
ReplyDeleteI kind of feel that way about most of the 'special' laws.
ReplyDelete"Hate crimes", for example. Look, if you're willing to kill someone or hurt them based on skin color or sexual preference, you're an asshole who needs to be off the streets. Who you hurt isn't the point, the point is that you're willing to hurt someone.
I hate violence against almost everyone, although when I'm honest, I would be willing to DO violence to protect the children in my care or someone I love.
I don't need a special law for it, though. Does this mean I should be locked up?
And on a side note, I once worked with a woman whose husband was an abuser. One night, he beat her up in front of many people at a bar, and when the police came, she cried and wanted her 'baby' and signed a paper refusing to press charges. She held the pen in a hand with three broken fingers and a large cut across the palm.
Yeah, it's all to real. I wish we took it as seriously when it happens to men, VAWA makes it easy do dismiss violence against men, and worse, it makes it easy to file false charges. Laws like this usually do more harm than good - it's not like assault wasn't illegal before VAWA.
ReplyDeleteWhenever we went to arrest a wife beater, child molester and a few other "special cases" we always prayed that they would resist arrest....usually they didn't because they were really cowards.
ReplyDeleteYes, bullies are cowards. Male bullies, anyway. Female bullies tend to be devious, and defiant to the end, in my experience. Is that what you've seen?
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