On December 31, 2003 the Boston Globe ran an “In Memoriam” page. The Globe lists names that two domestic violence organizations, Jane Doe and Peace at Home, identify as people who “lost their lives as a result of domestic violence.” There are 15 names, 12 female and 3 males. The Globe runs this “In Memoriam” each year.  

This year the Globe editorializes that Massachusetts set up a domestic violence fatality review board. The Globe notes that, “Review boards can add more insight to homicide-suicide cases, since police investigations don’t go far when the apparent perpetrator is dead.” This observation is long over due. The issue of domestic violence is far more complex and multifaceted than the majority of national and local domestic violence organizations proclaim.

Domestic violence by statute law in all fifty states is not only and exclusively violence against women. Because these, many of these well intended people are unwilling or unable to recognize or understand statute law, they have both created and continue to perpetuate an unnecessary gender war concerning domestic violence intervention and prevention. They have become a part of the problem, apart from those seeking solution for all victims.  

The national and local domestic violence organization’s websites and publications proclaim that domestic violence is caused by men because they are men. They proffer that domestic violence is caused by men who objectify women, do not see women as a people, do not respect women as a group, and they claim that contemporary mores and norms cause men in general to view women as property or sexual objects.  

In fact, it was in the Boston Globe that Nancy Scannell, the legislative director of Jane Doe, proclaimed that, ''Men are sometimes victims of domestic violence but the attempt to be inclusive [of male victims] should never be interpreted to mean that the issue is gender-neutral. It does not change our mind about why [domestic violence] happens. It happens because of sexism and power and control of men over women in our society” These organizations believe they are right, in fact they know they are right, they are proud of it and they are not going to change their minds. Not quite a roadmap to peace and consolation.

Ignoring The Evidence

Jeffery Fagan warned in, The Criminalization of Domestic Violence: Promises and Limits that, “Assuming that patriarchy and power relations alone [emphasis added] cause domestic violence leads us toward conclusions that do not consider a full array of explanatory variables from other disciplines” It is incredulous that this single minded myopic view, that domestic violence is gender driven because men hate women and want to beat and batter them into submission is held by the vast majority of domestic violence agencies.

This “one cause” intervention approach continues to be applauded by the Globe and other mainstream media and our public policy makers. It hinders not helps progress.

Deaths as a Result of Domestic Violence

Jane Doe and Peace at Home list and the Globe only print the names of 15 people who lost their lives as a result of domestic violence. It is difficult for those who understand the complexities of domestic violence to understand how Jane Doe, Peace at Home and the Globe do not understand that 6 other people also lost their lives and two other people who attempted to take their lives also are victims of domestic violence.

One female and five males committed suicide after taking the life of another and two other males attempted suicide. The Globe notes that review boards “can add more insight” to homicide-suicide cases. A review board also will document that Jane Doe and other national organizations are looking at only one small piece of the puzzle. This does not mean their single piece will not fit, it simply means it is only a partial part of a complex puzzle.

The Globe editorial begins with, “The details of deaths from domestic violence often echo from year to year.” What the Globe, Jane Doe and other national organizations do not understand is that they are hindering not helping in the effort to get people to listen. The vast majority of people in America, both male and female, know full well that the majority of domestic violence, fatal and non-fatal incidents do not occur because of men in general want to oppress women in particular.

In fact, I suggest that if the Globe, Jane Doe, Peace at Home, and the vast majority of domestic violence organizations read the 2003 “In Memoriam” many of the complexities of domestic violence are there for them to see. They are there for them to see, only if they are willing to open their minds and hearts and to look through an unbiased lens.

If one is bias free and agrees look at all the deaths, as a review board would do, many of varied forms of causal behavior that create domestic violence will appear year after year. It is far beyond frustration that the Jane Doe and Peace at Home can provide the names and the Globe can print these names year after year yet the refuse to see that reality that list presents to them.