Gender must be taken into account

PATRICK McGINNITY suggests domestic violence is not and should not be seen as a gendered issue (Irish Examiner, January 16).

Domestic violence, however, is and must be seen as a gender issue because men and women live gendered lives. Whether we agree with it or not, men and women’s lives vary considerably, in part because of their gender.

For example, women are more likely to take on caring roles, which puts them in a different position to the bread-winner. Also, women are more likely to be targets of rape and sexual assault both in and out of the home.