Domestic violence: a false view exposed

I AGREE wholeheartedly with the sentiments expressed by Mary Cleary (Irish Examiner letters, September 15) concerning the recent TCD study on domestic violence.

The results, which were published in the European Journal of General Practice, once again illustrate that men are just as likely to be victims as women.

This is hardly surprising, seeing that it is precisely what Erin Pizzey, the founder of the domestic violence refuge movement in Britain, has been saying for years.

Ms Pizzey, who is the author of two books on the subject, has always claimed that domestic violence is not a gender issue.

Commenting on the results, Dr Susan Smith, senior lecturer in primary care at TCD and one of the study’s authors, said that “the societal perception is that it is a woman’s problem”.

This misconception prevails in our society because influential organisations like Women’s Aid and Amnesty International continue to claim that the vast majority of victims are female.

Why are they so reluctant to accept the views of Erin Pizzey? And why are they so stubbornly dismissive of the large body of international research which has verified her views?

Patrick McGinnity

Derrynoose

Keady

Co Armagh