NCJ Number
53085
Date Published
1978
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THIS IS A REBUTTAL OF AN ARTICLE TITLE 'THE BATTERED HUSBAND SYNDROME,' WHICH MAINTAINS THAT WIVES ASSAULT THEIR HUSBANDS AS OFTEN AS HUSBANDS ASSAULT THEIR WIVES AND THAT THE HUSBANDS' PLIGHT IS IGNORED.
Abstract
STATISTICS FROM STUDIES, WELFARE FIGURES, INTERVIEWS WITH VICTIMS, AND INTERVIEWS WITH DIVORCE LAWYERS ARE USED TO REFUTE EACH POINT MADE IN THE STEINMETZ ARTICLE. THE OMISSION OF CATEGORIES OF VIOLENCE IN STUDIES QUOTED BY STEINMETZ IS CRITICIZED. ONE STUDY FOUND THAT WIVES EXCEED HUSBANDS IN SLAPPING AND HITTING. HOWEVER, BY LEAVING OUT BEATING, THE STEINMETZ FIGURES FAIL TO REFLECT THE FACT THAT HUSBANDS EXCEED WIVES IN THE USE OF THE TWO MOST VIOLENT CATEGORIES (BEATING AND USE OF GUN OR KNIFE). STEINMETZ POINTS OUT THAT EQUAL NUMBERS OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES ARE KILLED. INTERVIEWS AND STUDIES ARE CITED WHICH INDICATE THAT WIVES USUALLY KILL THEIR HUSBANDS AFTER BEING REPEATEDLY BEATEN WHILE HUSBANDS KILL WIVES FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, OFTEN WITHOUT PROVOCATION. THE CONTENTION THAT FINANCIAL PRESSURES FORCE HUSBANDS TO STAY WITH BATTERING WIVES IS REFUTED BY INTERVIEWS WITH DIVORCE LAWYERS, WELFARE FIGURES, AND STUDIES OF NONPAYMENT OF COURT-ORDERED SUPPORT. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT HUSBANDS CAN LEAVE AND SUFFER LITTLE FINANCIAL LOSS. IT IS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT MANY STATES PROVIDE SHELTER FOR BATTERED 'SPOUSES' AND THAT BATTERED HUSBANDS ARE NOT IGNORED. THE STEINMETZ ARTICLE IS CALLED A DISSERVICE TO ALL BATTERED SPOUSES. (SEE NCJ #46165.) (GLR)