"Coaching Boys Into Men" NY Campaign on Violence Against Women Seen as "Boybashing" by Men's Rights Group

Here's the print ad. What do you think?

The men's activist group The New York Coalition of Fathers and Families recently staged a protest against the ads, which are sponsored by New York's Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence. The ads will appear in print, and in TV and radio spots throughout the state.

Some people recognize that domestic violence awareness efforts and aid services routinely fail to target male victims. Jan Brown, Founder and Executive Director of the Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women, works daily to provide support to, and raise awareness about, male victims of domestic abuse. (Although interestingly, the organization targets heterosexual couples only. Men abused by women.)

The critics of these ads, however, seem motivated by open aggression and hate. The ads may focus on domestic abuse against women specifically, but they persecute no one. The NY Coalition of Fathers and Families accuses the ads of painting all men as abusive by default.

Radio commentator Glenn Sacks writes that

if it really were a "Domestic Violence Public Awareness Media Campaign," we'd be made aware that women are just as likely to attack their male partners as vice versa, but any mention of that is strictly verboten.

He neglects to back up his claims with any statistics. I guess we take him at his word...

But more than that, there are lots of ways to disrespect women. Demeaning, shaming, and destructive behavior goes on every day in the absence of physical violence. It seems like this is a concept beyond these protesters. At least, if you take a look at the comment to Sacks' post.

And the ad doesn't try to peg boys as necessarily destructive toward women. Will a boy necessarily avoid vegetables? Play with matches? Neglect his homework? No, but he might. Especially if the behavior is common in his environment and no one talks to him about the importance of these issues.

I mean really, a protest? I know that courts are skewed toward women when it comes to divorce and child custody, but picking a fight over ads teaching respect is about as helpful to their cause as NOW's New York chapter accusing Ted Kennedy of  "the ultimate betrayal" for endorsing Barack over Hillary. It's ill-intended, counter-productive, and just plain embarrassing.

Comments

[Len Avarfon]

The biggest contributor to a lack of respect for women among boys comes from a lack of a father in their life. If women would learn to get married before getting pregnant and then parading a string of male "partners" through their sons lives, maybe the boys would have a better view of women.