Domestic Violence
Tip of the Hat
Minnesota Program Development
Minnesota Program Development, Inc. is a nonprofit agency that works towards the elimination of violence in the lives of women and their children. We recognize that women and children are vulnerable to violence because of their unequal social, economic, and political status in society. We also recognize that gender inequality is not the only form of inequality operating in the lives of women. All forms of institutionalized oppression, including racism, classism, heterosexism, and ageism increase the vulnerability of women to individual acts of violence and to institutionalized acts of violence. The mission or our agency is to focus our work on eliminating one form of violence that women experience-battering. It is also to work collaboratively with other progressive agencies or organizations that are seeking to reduce violence within our society.
Not specified
By focussing on domestic violence, the Duluth Model seeks to put into place a constellation of educational services, support services, and law enforcement procedures, which benefit families whose fathers cannot handle their strict father role properly, who immaturely resort to violence.
The Duluth Model, because it squarely stands between battered women and men who feel their wives are misbehaving extensions of themselves, is the target of scorn from "divorced dads" or so-called "men's rights" organizations.
The words "Progressive" and "Family Values"
Evan, By linking Progressive and Family Values are you attempting to reclaim this frame? The use of these three words together gave me a jolt and I was reminded of a conservative counterpart, i.e. compassionate conservative. I thought we were using terms like "mutual responsibility" to try and get at the opposite of "family values." Please expand.
Reclaiming Family Values
Your welcome, Evan. Thanks for being our host in this space you've created for this discussion.
cwatts I agree that "Mutual responsibility" is a good frame, it highlights the "pulling together" aspect of the Nurturant Parent family. Also, I like "self-expression values" because that highlights the goal of nurturing, and it googles well. I wonder if either can be used depending on the situation, or should we just stick to one?
Can domestic violence be prevented?
Actually this is a question. Is there any literature on the subject of prevention of domestic violence?
The battered women shelters are only band-aids!
Resources for prevention
Janna, there is lots of info out there about preventing domestic violence. I've worked both with women's self-defense courses that include healthy relationship skills, and a little bit with men's anti-violence programs that help men stop being abusive. Other groups work with youth, whole families, survivors, LGBT families, and all kinds of strategies.
My local Family Violence Project has resources here:
http://www.familyviolence.ca/html/educational.htm
My local Anti-Violence Project has resources here:
http://www.uvss.uvic.ca/avp/RE_Resources.html
Another local group, Project Respect, focuses on healthy sexual relationship skills for youth:
http://yesmeansyes.com
Bigger, national and international anti-violence groups include:
V-Day Against Violence Against Women
http://vday.org
Men Against Violence Against Women
http://www.whiteribbon.ca/
Men Can Stop Rape
http://www.mencanstoprape.org/
Most women's shelters can also provide information about prevention of violence.
New! Progressive Family Values
Thanks for the Tip of the Hat nomination, Fields. You have raised an important issue that is too often marginalized. This website will provide a series of videos, starting in January, and I expect that one of these will feature an interview in which George Lakoff will discuss progressive family values.
In the writings of the Rockridge Institute and in George's writings, we have discussed the fact that parents in the nurturant parent model are responsible for teaching their children to be nurturant toward others, partly by example. Ending domestic violence is a necessary part of the progressive vision, but one that is seldom recognized as a national priority. I hope that we will discuss this vital issue more, but for now I would like to point out a relevant chapter of George Lakoff's Moral Politics on the Rockridge Institute's website.
http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/research/lakoff/mp21
This section entitled "Obedience, Punishment, and Violence" is particularly of interest.
Thanks again for raising this issue.
Evan