ena, "I don't know if 90% of abusers are female, but one thing I do know, 100% of the abusers are adults, and it's be nice if the rest of us started acting like adults, rather than sullen schoolchildren - you know "my gender's nicer than your gender, nyah,nyah, nayh."

So far it does not seem to have turned into a feminist bashing exercise, that unfortunatly may happen. Nor as far as I can see a my gender's nicer than your gender except by the author.

No suggestions that 90% of abusers are female (some abusers are children by the way - step brothers and sisters etc).

Elspeth has as is her style written a dishonest piece which suggests a significant genderisation of child abuse which isn't supported by the evidence.

You will have seen this plenty of times before but I'll keep posting it when discussions are based around the generalised concept of protecting kids from fathers rather than from abusive parents http://www.abusedchildtrust.com.au/facts.htm#3

Elspeth is not interested in protecting children, she is interested in better outcomes for women at the expense of children and their fathers.

If she had genuine interest in protecting kids she would write about protecting kids from harmful parents rather than just harmful male parents.

Elspeth might also write about means to make false claims of abuse less attractive to someone seeking primary care (and the house, car etc).

The article is rightly condemmed.

R0bert

Dr Elspeth supports women and children escaping/experiencing violence. That's where HER expertise lies. Others support men.

I welcome the post that reminds us that those who quibble about who is worse - men or women - miss the point that all of them are gown up children - once boys and girls. Some have been abused. some abuse.

Lets have a discussion of what's to be done FOR the children.

Lets get a lead from www.courageouskids.net a web prepared by children who have grown up in a hostile, pro abuser environment and learn from what they say - not what their parents said.

Have a look at another web www.kidsindistress.org.au a collection of many issues facing people whose children disclose abuse by a parent.

If you care about CHILDREN, lets spend some time in their interests.

Sorry Cotter, but I find you way off the mark. If the best interests of the child are to be maintained then every effort should be biased strongly in support of the family. From the child's perspective, in most instances it is, they need and desire both parents. The ideal is not always possible - but this is the one worth aiming for. The caveat hoped for by some our social reformers is we're now able to totally re-define 'family' - another piece of ‘quackery’ linked to the moral relativism of our time.

What is wrong with society that so many men are not accountable for their behaviours and actions? The decent men do not feel an unjustified need to invalidate the experiences of so many children and women. And they understand what feminism is about. Women ARE NOT responsible for men's actions. Although saying that, there are many women who are complicit in supporting these defensive men.

These men are the people my father warned me about

Trintz,

1. Who are these men who aren't accountable for their behaviours and actions?

2. What "behaviours and actions"?

3. How many is "so many"?

4. How many are "so many children and women"?

5. Which men are defensive?

6. Who are these complicit women?

7. What exactly is it that you are talking about here?

trinz

You may not have bothered to look at Roberts link I will paste a relevant part.

Family types involved in substantiated abuse and neglect

27% two parent (natural families)
23% two parent (other families)
37% single female parent families
5% single male parent families

I assume the remaining 8% are children in institutions.

More women than men kill their own children.

Lets forget about genders, there are bad mothers and bad fathers, blaming one gender or another is futile.

Lets strive to make sure no child is abused by anybody