Dating violence: At the DoJ, they still don’t “get it”

On Tuesday, March 2 the Centers for Disease Control released “Dating Matters: Understanding Teen Dating Violence Prevention,” a 60-minute, web-based training program on dating violence.

The program emphasizes the fact that both boys and girls can be perpetrators, and boys and girls can be victims: http://abusegate.mensnewsdaily.com/2010/03/03/when-it-comes-to-dating-violence-cdc-gets-it/

But some people are still floating around in La-La Land, filled with the illusion that girls are never aggressive, and boys are never victims.

One such person is Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli, third ranking official at the Department of Justice (DoJ). At a recent meeting to launch Teen Dating Violence Month, Perrelli used the phrase “violence against women” four times. Any guesses how many times he commented on “violence against men”?

Zero.

You can see his remarks here: http://www.justice.gov/asg/speeches/2010/asg-speech-100128.html

Obviously the DoJ is out to lunch on this critical issue that faces millions of Americans, male and female. The DoJ Office on Violence Against Women should know better. Tell OVW acting director Catherine Pierce to remove these biased comments from her website:

Email: Catherine.Pierce-at-usdoj.gov
Telephone: 1-202-307-3876