Dr. Murray Straus Testifies Before the NH CSM

During the June 2006 meeting of the New Hampshire Commission on the Status of Men, UNH Family Violence Professor Murry Straus testified on domestic violence issues, and answered questions regarding the Conflict Tactics Scale. Foster's Daily Democrat reported on Dr. Straus' testimony today, but as of this time the article is not available on the Foster's web site. Read more below to view a temporary version of the article. Also, an audio recording of the testimony will be made available from the NH CSM's web site later this month. Perhaps this information will help the NCFM-LA letter writing effort?

Researcher calls for women to stop abusing men

Wednesday, July 5, 2006

By Chloe Johnson
Staff Writer
ljohnson@fosters.com

CONCORD — Murray Straus says its time for a men's movement.

Posters and broadcasts on partner violence always portray male perpetrators and female victims, he said. According to his new research findings, that leaves the other half out of the picture.

He told this to the New Hampshire Commission on the Status of Men at their meeting Friday in the Legislative Office Building in Concord.

Straus, co-director of the Family Research Lab at the University of New Hampshire, recently completed an international study on partner violence among university students. His queries of more than 13,600 students revealed that the most common instance of partner violence is mutual abuse.

The second most common situation of partner violence is when the female is the perpetrator against the male, he said. This leaves the reverse — when males abuse females — to be the least common in practice, although the most common in publicity.

"I have a long-term prevention goal that I hope my research will make a contribution to," Murray said prior to the meeting at which he was asked to testify. He added that it's not enough to provide services for the battered, and that the solution is to stop the aggressive behavior in the first place.

He said it's possible to stop half of abuse by making it as reprehensible for a woman to slap a man as it for a man to hit a woman.

"If we want men to stop it," he said. "Women have to stop it also."

This is in part because his research indicates that abuse can escalate from one partner to both.

He said overall partner abuse has decreased since the problem was recognized nationally. However, he said, the change only applies to abuse by men, not against them. That's because society has not made a "big deal" out of abuse against men, he said.

Straus said he lauds the women's movement for calling attention to violence against them. Now, he says it's men's turn.

"We should make the same big deal about women hitting men," Straus told his audience. "That's one of the things your Commission can do."

Commissioner Marshall Hickok said the effort is blocked by society. "There's a perceptual wall we run into where it's not taken seriously," he said.

Straus said the fact that the commission even exists is evidence that people are taking the position of men more seriously. It was established by the Legislature in 2002.

"It's going to depend on a mass social change of opinion," he said. "And that takes a movement."

Straus said the study relied on self-reporting since partner violence is rarely observed and rarely reported.

He said violence usually has to lead to injury or a disturbance of the peace before the police are notified, and that is only a small fraction.

Straus said men are less likely to report abuse because of their own shame and the disbelief of other people.

"No one has waged a campaign to get men to come forward when they are victimized," Straus said.

Straus said female perpetrators of violence don't get reported by shelters because they aren't asked if they also hit the men. And women do not go to a shelter if they are the only one doing the hitting.

Research indicates that women are as likely to initiate violence as men, Straus said.

Straus said the offenses range from a slap to homicide. He said nationally women only commit 10 percent of homicides, but they commit one third of domestic violence-related homicides.

"Women rarely commit homicide," he said. "But when they do, it's a male partner."

Commissioner David Lauren asked whether the study took into account the reason women would be abusive. Straus said his research found that dominance is the primary reason people use violence.

People get violent out of anger and frustration, Straus said. He said they are frequently attempting to correct misbehavior or punish for wrongdoing.

Chairman Joseph Mastromarino said the problem is not based on gender, but on the ability to function in a relationship. He said people need to learn to deal with conflicts without resorting to violence.

Straus noted that there is a difference between the type of violence the different genders inflict. He said men cause two-thirds of the partner violence that results in injuries requiring medical treatment.

"Men's violence against women has more severe consequences both physically and mentally," he said.

But, he said, the other one-third can't be ignored.

Lauren agreed. "No violence should be ignored," he said. "It's a problem regardless of who perpetrates it."

Hickok asked whether there is a correlation between the changing roles of women in society and increased violence perpetrated by them. Straus said the issue is disputed, but there is a theory of that nature. He said his international study is consistent with the theory because countries with liberated women have more cases of violence by women.

"Does that mean we shouldn't have equality?" he asked. "No."

"Every social change — including desirable ones — has its downside," he said.

The commission asked Straus for advice on what kind of public initiative could help lower the violence against men.

Straus said the violence presentation programs in public schools need to be changed to address violence by females against males.

"Little by little — too little at a time — but things are happening," Straus said