Texas Denies Male Victims of Domestic Violence
The Hunstville Item is running a story about The SAAFE House and how they’re recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Their eye-catching project involves hanging shoes from trees at the Walker County Courthouse, a pair for each domestic violence murder victim.
The problem with this display is the blatant gender bias that is apparent from the name alone: “In Her Shoes.” Community organizer Alex White told The Item, “Those 136 women were daughters, mothers, sisters, aunts, neighbors and friends.”
News Center 25 has a story about the Women’s Crisis Center for Mid-Coast Family Services in Victoria, their 25th anniversary, and how they’re recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Their project also involves hanging clothing, this time t-shirts. News reports show only female victims’ names and stories being told.
What about male victims? Certainly those in high positions in the Texas family violence industry would make sure to address and provide services for every victim. Right?
A quick look at the Texas Council on Family Violence website is discouraging to male victims of abuse, and disgusting to their advocates. It’s all there in their own words.
Each year, the Texas Council on Family Violence compiles a list of the women killed by their male intimate partners in Texas.
It seems they have no concern about men who are abused or murdered during domestic disputes. It’s not like it didn’t happen. Texas wasn’t lucky enough to avoid having a woman murder her husband last year. This is the story of one:
Charles Shanks, 49, was killed by wife Kimberly Shanks, 51, on December 14, 2008 in Allen, Texas during a domestic dispute. And here’s no chance it was an accident. Kimberly stabbed Charles for having the TV too loud, admitting she had aimed for his heart. She then went next door, picked up a heavy rock, brought it into their home, and hit Charles over the head with it. She still wasn’t done. She stabbed him again, this time in the back.
I hope next year The SAAFE House will hang shoes to represent the men who have been killed by their female intimate partners this year. Here are two of their stories:
Michael Jackson was stabbed in the chest and back by wife Dina on February 25 in South Fort Worth. Dina was apprehended on her way to Las Vegas.
Melissa Dawn Fleming, 40, shot and killed husband Joseph, 45, on June 14 in Gladewater. She went to the police and nonchalantly stated that she’d shot him. Police say there have been no disturbance calls to their residence in the past.
It will be interesting to see if there are men’s shoes on display next year to represent Michael and Joseph. And even more important, how soon will a pair be hanging at the corner of Sam Houston Avenue and 12th Street for Charles Shanks?
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Stumble It!
October 21st, 2009 at 11:50 am
Ignore men? Well, why not? Being brutish animals, we really don’t even feel pain or suffer.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:16 pm
It’s really disgusting that things have turned out this way. Anyone ignoring these stories should really be ashamed of themselves… And they should certainly not be in charge of any SAAFE house.
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:49 am
US Dept. of Justice and CDC stats show that very, very few men are actually murdered by their wives, girlfriends or exes. Most women who do kill their partners are only retaliating for the abuse they suffered for years. All three of your above examples were committed after the women experienced abuse. In 85-95% of incidents reported to police, men are the perps.
And I’m a man writing this!
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:49 am
The only way the discrimination in the justice system will stop is when those in control of the discrimination are sued and jailed.
Feminists mouthing off about how sexist men are doesn’t concern me. But to be able to create a government funded organization that is supposed to help all people but only helps half and then advertise that sick fact with no repercussions is a call for a lot more than just outrage.
How the hell did we come to a day and age where criminals can boast about their injustice in front of those who are supposed to uphold the law? That is going backwards in time, not forward.
October 25th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Aloha from Hilo, Hawaii!
We have just celebrated our 21rst Annual Family Peace Walk and Vigil this October for Domestic Violece Awareness Month. We have a huge quilt that has the faces, names and or pictures of women, men and children killed by their “loved one”. We are to begin yet another quilt to add those other victims recently killed.
Women are the majority of victims but there are women batterers. This year, our domestic abuse shelter took in two male victims of domestic violence.
Although this was not the norm however, we are recognizing that males victims of violence needs to be supported as well. I beleive that we should not discriminate who we serve as violence does not discriminate as well.
Our Family Violence Interagency Committee meet monthly and so does the break out groups targeting areas of concern; Public Awarenss, Legal, Training, Men Against Violence, Teen Dateing Volence. We are committed to work towards a violence free community following the Hawaii State Legislation’s: Navigating A Course For Peace. In order to do so, we all need to support the family systems-which includes the males.
Denby Toci
Survivor of DV
Domestic Abuse Shelter Manager
Public Awareness Committee Member
Received Purple Ribbon Award 2009
October 27th, 2009 at 6:31 am
How many men were killed in Texas in 2008 as a result of family violence? I’ve bee trying to get that info since September 4th… the day DPS was supposed to have 2008 crime stats out. Men were not included in the report.
Teri–do you have an e-mail address your readers can ask you questions at?