NCJ Number
227020
Journal
Violence Against Women Volume: 15 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2009 Pages: 513-531
Date Published
May 2009
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This article examined fathers’ rights Web sites in the context of State demographics and custody policy to provide an empirically based analysis of fathers’ rights advocacy in the United States.
Abstract
The quantitative content analysis of fathers’ rights group (FRG) Web sites discerned three factors that were central to the groups’ rhetoric: representing domestic violence allegations as false, promoting presumptive joint custody and decreasing child support, and portraying women as perpetrators of domestic abuse. These factors were all directly related to some of the most serious problems battered mothers report. In addition, the quantification of these factors provided empirical evidence about the nature of FRGs and a very different account of their priorities than that found in their mission statements. The findings suggest additional support theory by documenting the correlation between abuse supportive attitudes and beliefs promoted by FRGs and structural realities that present barriers to women seeking to leave abusers. FRGs currently enjoy unprecedented visibility in the United States as well as other countries. The Internet has played a key role in the multiplication of FRGs by facilitating group information, allowing for communication between groups and providing publicity for their causes. The purpose of this study was to examine prevalence of FRGs in the community, to quantify and analyze themes displayed on their Web sites, to examine demographic characteristics of communities manifesting significant FRG Web site activity, and to determine whether there was a relationship between the material found on FRG Web sites and State legislation promoting joint custody. Tables and references