A new ad campaign from the Indiana State Bar Association (found on www.inbar.org) attempts to promote the positive image of Indiana lawyers at the possible expense of denigrating fathers. More specifically, the ad shows a gut-wrenching promotional image depicting an abused girl, crouching in the fetal position, displayed with the following commentary next to her:
* Her father takes his anger out on her. A lawyer has him stopped.
* The state charges her father in criminal court. A lawyer protects her interests.
* Welfare places her in a foster home. A lawyer finds a permanent one.
* Her father almost killed her. An Indiana lawyer saved her.
* You have rights. Indiana lawyers protect them. Indiana State Bar Association
The ad could suggest that only fathers abuse children. The Indiana State Bar Association could have used a non-gender specific message that lawyers protect abused children by referring to abusive parents or step-parents, or abusive adults, rather than singling out fathers.
Unfortunately, the portrayal of abused children often follows a stereotypical path, i.e., the wrongdoer is the father, not the mother, the mother's boyfriend, or an uncle. However, the risk of abuse of children, especially for girls, increases substantially if the father is absent. In fact, if you look at the top of page 47 of my book "Fathers' Rights" (Basic Books) you will find the following:
"The absence of a biological father increases by 900 percent a daughter's vulnerability to rape and sexual abuse (often these assaults are committed by stepfathers or the boyfriends of custodial mothers)."
Negative portrayals of fathers perpetuate the incorrect stereotype of dads and men as abusers and batterers. According to columnist Glenn J. Sacks, referring to U.S. Department of Justice statistics, "...70% of confirmed cases of child abuse and 65% of parental murders of children are committed by mothers, not fathers."
Maybe we should request another poster, with the same little girl with the following language directly next to her:
* Her mother won't let dad see his daughter. An Indiana lawyer enforced his parenting rights.
It is time that all negative stereotypes
of fathers as abusers end. Child abuse is not gender specific and
male bashing does not benefit children.
Jeffrey M. Leving
