Domestic violence
Today the Washington Post has the first in a three-part series about pregnant or newly post-partum mothers who are murdered. It builds off of the interest in the Laci Peterson murders, and refers to the findings from a study a year or so back that found that homicide was the leading cause of death for pregnant women in Maryland, accounting for more than 20 percent of the deaths of pregnant or recently postpartum women over a six year period. That’s a mindboggling statistic.
While some of these homicides are apparently unrelated to the pregnancy, the majority of them are committed by the soon-to-be-fathers. The article quote Pat Brown, a criminal profiler, as saying:
"If the woman doesn’t want the baby, she can get an abortion. If the guy doesn’t want it, he can’t do a damn thing about it. He is stuck with a child for the rest of his life, he is stuck with child support for the rest of his life, and he’s stuck with that woman for the rest of his life. If she goes away, the problem goes away."
That quote comes across as perhaps more sympathetic to the murderers than Brown intended, but I think the general point is right. I have no suggestions for solutions. Giving the fathers the right to force an abortion seems deeply wrong to me. Allowing them to opt out of paternal rights and child support just screws over the kids.
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I’m embarassingly addicted to The Amazing Race, but am increasingly disturbed by the abusive relationship being displayed by Jonathan and Victoria. It’s painful to watch. Maybe I’m giving CBS too much credit, but I assume that the producers didn’t see the signs of this when selecting them to participate. If that’s true, I’m not sure what’s the right thing to do. Does showing this behavior on a "reality" show make it seem normal? Would editing the coverage to de-emphasize it be abetting after the fact? Should CBS be including links to support groups on the show’s website?
December 19th, 2004 at 10:49 pm
I’m addicted to the Amazing Race too. I think they’re right to show the abusiveness and not try to edit it out. I’m assuming they’ve edited it in ways that actually highlight it. I like how the host last week attempted to talk some sense into Jonathan. While my friends and I are horrified by their relationship, I wonder how many people think it’s normal or say things like, “Now that’s how you treat a woman.” Shiver. It’s interesting how they contrast that with Don and Mary Jean’s relationship which is so equitable and loving (at least how it’s portrayed on tv). I just hope Jonathan and Victoria don’t win cause I’ll be sick if they do.
December 20th, 2004 at 6:59 am
The problem with the Washington Post series is that it is overly simplistic, as well as manipulative. It has been published only to enrage readers, and encourage support of the Violence Against Women Act, which comes up for reauthorization this year.
Surely there will be much more to each of the stories of the murdered women, and the WP does them a disservice by lumping them all into a single category for political purposes.
December 20th, 2004 at 7:46 am
The Washington Post – Dishonoring the Dead
People on both sides of the VAWA controversy know it, but the general public does not – this piece was published as an early salvo in the fight for/against reauthorization of VAWA.The problem with the Washington Post series is that it is overly simpl
December 30th, 2004 at 10:18 am
I was away on vacation when you posted this and have only just now come across your comments about the Amazing Race. I couldn’t agree with you more — I am addicted to the show but horrified by their inclusion of a relationship that I think is clearly abusive. I think if they want to show it, they should put a disclaimer on the show that says that there is abuse going on between two of the participants, and providing information for how to seek help if you are being abused. It is almost too painful to watch the way Jonathan treats his wife. He fits the profile of the abusive husband perfectly – he calls himself and his wife “superhero” when things are going well, and he hits her and calls her an idiot when things are not going well. He is abrasive to everyone around him and completely selfish. I don’t understand how CBS can include this couple — it is totally detracting from what the show is about.
Okay, sorry for the rant – I had to get that off my chest.
January 1st, 2005 at 11:14 am
“Giving the fathers the right to force an abortion seems deeply wrong to me. Allowing them to opt out of paternal rights and child support just screws over the kids.”
Let’s see, you’re a woman who feels that you should have the exclusive say as to whether the child can live or die and if the child is to live, you can enslave a man who you had consensual sex with, to support the child.
You only mentioned abortion or forcing the man to pay child support. Mothers also have the option of anonymous newborn dropoffs (with no fear of ever being prosecuted (can you image if fathers were allowed this option!?!)) and then there’s the adoption option – a hit with CPS agencies and churches.
Pro-choice for women means no choice for men.