DOMESTIC VIOLENCE remains a sensitive and divisive issue between men and women.
?This was clear after a panel discussion on the topic on Friday night at the Whitepark Wesleyan Holiness Church, St Michael.
Panellists offered differing views on how some women provoked men, how women were the recipients of the majority of domestic abuse cases, why there was no reason for a man to hit a woman and the role intimidation played.
In her presentation, president of the National Organisation of Women, Marilyn Rice-Bowen said there was “absolutely” no reason for a man to hit or kill a woman. She urged anyone who was experiencing this to speak out and seek trained help.
However, chairman of the Men’s Education Support Association, Ralph Boyce said some men were provoked to action. While not supporting violence against women, he said it was impractical to view the issue only in such absolute terms.
“Domestic violence and abuse is a very complex issue and we have to look at it in its totality. We are saying we have to look at some of the root causes . . . no man owns anybody but what he often says is he is invested in a woman – and this is not something we support but sometimes the men are very foolish . . . and sometimes the women then say, ‘I am finished with you’.
“There are things that trigger responses, we cannot be in the clouds and say there is nothing anybody does [that sparks violence]. Sometimes the men even commit violence against themselves . . . and kill themselves,” he said.
