Background: As I’ve often noted, three decades of research shows that women are at least as likely to attack their male partners as vice versa, and that a significant minority of domestic violence injuries are sustained by heterosexual men. Research shows that women use weapons and the element of surprise to help balance the scales. To learn more, see my co-authored column October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month Ignores Many Victims (Louisville Courier-Journal & others, 10/4/06)
I’ve noted on various occasions that the only domestic violence shelter which accepts male victims in all of Southern California is the Valley Oasis shelter out in the desert north of Los Angeles. Feminists sometimes assert that California women’s shelters will accept male victims, but it isn’t true.
When I was writing a newspaper column about this a few years ago, I posed as a male victim of domestic violence and called every domestic violence shelter in all of Los Angeles and San Diego counties. Not a single one would accept me or offer assistance, with the exception of Valley Oasis. Most flatly refused any assistance at all, but a couple did offer me space in a homeless shelter. When I asked, “Am I supposed to take my children to a homeless shelter?”, they replied, “That’s all we can do.”
To their credit, however, several of the shelter directors and workers did sympathize, telling me that we need shelters and services for men.
Marc Angelucci, president of the National Coalition of Free Men Los Angeles, writes with some good news–WomenShelter of Long Beach is becoming the second shelter in Los Angeles County to provide outreach and services to male victims. Below is a letter Marc had published in a local paper.
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Male Victims
To The Editor,
As an organization that examines the way sex discrimination affects men and boys, we are pleased that the WomenShelter of Long Beach is increasing its outreach to male victims and to other historically neglected victims and that it recognizes how its gender-specific name can be a barrier to male victims. (“WomenShelter Celebrates Three Decades Of Service,†Oct. 11)
We hope that the WomenShelter will eventually change its name to be gender-inclusive so no victims will be discouraged from seeking services. (more…)
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