ABSTRACT

One U.S. societal reaction to and evaluation of poverty among its citizens was the concept of the "feminization of poverty". In an analogous manner, the frame of reference of domestic violence has been to align women, rather than men, as the recipients of domestic violence. However, epidemiological surveys on the distribution of violent behavior between adult partners suggest gender parity. Similarly, in terms of child abuse, levels of fathers' domestic violence toward their own children are more consonant with those of mothers' rather than they are distinct. Nonetheless, the various perceptions and images, in both the popular and professional presses, seem to emphasize men's violence toward partners and toward children and to de-emphasize women's violence toward their partners and their children. With this shift in emphasis form epidemiological data to images, the political, social legislative, and judicial forces are thereby directed at men's violence and women's victimization at the exclusion of women's violence and men's victimization. Potential costs of such a shift are presented.