The Pied Piper, "Transsexuals again?"

Nonetheless you raise a very good point that through its focus solely on heterosexual violence WRD discriminates against LGBT victims who already face an uphill battle in getting authorities, especially the police, to accept and investigate violence in their communities.

This fact sheet (excerpt) regarding lesbians indicates the prevalence of the problem, stating that violence was as common among lesbian couples as among heterosexual couples,

"Lesbian Partner Violence Fact Sheet

Suzana Rose, Ph.D.
National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center
University of Missouri at St. Louis

What is lesbian partner violence?
Partner violence in lesbian (and gay) relationships recently has been identified as an important social problem. Partner or domestic violence among lesbians has been defined as including physical, sexual and psychological abuse, although researchers have most often studied physical violence.

How common is lesbian partner violence?
About 17-45% of lesbians report having been the victim of a least one act of physical violence perpetrated by a lesbian partner (1,5,6,13). Types of physical abuse named by more than 10% of participants in one study included:

-Disrupting other’s eating or sleeping habits
-Pushing or shoving, driving recklessly to punish, and slapping, kicking, hitting, or biting.
-Sexual abuse by a woman partner has been reported by up to 50% of lesbians.
-Psychological abuse has been reported as occurring at least one time by 24% to 90% of lesbians

The research usually has been done with mostly white, middle-class lesbians who are sufficiently open about their sexual orientation to have met researchers seeking participants in the lesbian community. Subsequently, these findings may not apply to women who are less open, less educated, or of other ethnic backgrounds."
http://www.musc.edu/vawprevention/lesbianrx/factsheet.shtml

It would also be a good idea to find out what cultural groups contain the highest percentages of violence and target them to be ambassadors.

I have a concern about the over use and indiscriminate use of the word “DOMESTIC”

Excerpt from whiteribbonaustralia’s post –

“Whilst domestic violence is experienced by both men and women, it is clear that men and women do not assault each other at equal rates or with equal effect. A national survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Personal Safety Survey 2005, established: …”

I’d like people to note two things:

A. PSS respondents were asked about their experiences of the different types of violence, since the age of 15, by different types of male and female perpetrators (including current partner, previous partner, boyfriend/girlfriend or date, other known man or woman, and stranger).

B. do•mes•tic [ də méstik ]

adjective

Definition:

1. relating to home: relating to or used in the home or everyday life within a household

2. relating to family: relating to or involving a family or the people living together within a household

I’ve done a search of the body of the Personal Safety Survey, Australia, 2005 (Reissue) and can’t find the word “DOMESTIC mentioned once.

I believe the indiscriminate use of the word DOMESTIC, as used by whiteribbonaustralia and others in the game when referring to the PSS in the same paragraph, is intended to implant the idea that we should be associating what is being said in the latter, with fathers/husbands(including ex).

http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/056A404DAA576AE6CA2571D00080E985/$File/49060_2005%20(reissue).pdf

A well written and truthful response above, whiteribbonaustralia.

However, with the usual anti-feminine, 'old-boys-club', Neanderthal mentality of several of our male contributors on this thread, you will never change their archaic views.

White ribbon day would never have had to be created if there was no problem with male violence in our society.

No one has ever said females can't be violent against others, but it is predominantly males who commit the most violence in our society, so why not ask men to take a more proactive role in stopping it?

I would suggest that many of the contributors who are against white ribbon day are still mourning the 'good old days' when men were men, and women never complained, and a good thump would surely put them in their place if they did-- right boys?

Suze, what is so different between the problem with male violence and the problem with female violence that requires action with respect to the former but not the latter? I think predominance is hardly a good answer particularly when a greater percentage of men under report violence perpetrated by women.

Re your comment "...contributors ...are still mourning the 'good old days' when men were men, and women never complained,... ". Complained about what? ...the violence they the women started?

Do you know how long ago the phrase "nagging housewife" was coined? Obviously not.

BTW I am like Vanna, I also have never seen a woman with a black eye and I've spent a lot time in doctors/hospital emergency waiting areas over the years.

Suzeonline,I seem to remember Hillary Clinton saying in one of her speeches for election to president that "Women are incapable of commiting crime"I presume you would agree with that given your obvious distaste of everything male.
You say that there are avenues for men out there,just go look for them!
Where is the department for mens affairs?
Where is the minister for mens affairs?
Where are the mens` refuges?
Why do we no longer have spokesmen,but spokespersons or spokeswomen?
Well,Mz,I rest my case on the subject of gender bias from government downwards in our society.could you posibly be honest and admit that male-bashing is rampant yet there are some men out here who are not violent.