Studies conducted in 85 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East have compared male and female perpetration rates for intimate partner abuse.[1] Among 198 sex-specific comparisons of male vs. female-perpetrated abuse, the studies have concluded that, “rates were higher for female perpetration/male victimization, or the same, in 118 comparisons, or 60%.”

This conclusion applies to both physical vs. psychological abuse:

  • Physical partner violence – “Rates of physical PV were higher for female perpetration/male victimization, compared to male perpetration/female victimization, or were the same, in 73 of those comparisons, or 62%.”
  • Psychological abuse – “Higher rates found for female perpetration/male victimization [were found] in 36 comparisons (67%)”

The analysis concludes, “Results of this review suggest that partner abuse can no longer be conceived as merely a gender problem, but also (and perhaps primarily) as a human and relational problem, and should be framed as such by everyone involved.” Unfortunately, the International Violence Against Women Act ignores this precept, using the misleading term, “gender-based violence,” which implies the abuse is motivated by the victim’s sex.

A landmark study on dating violence among university students in 32 countries confirmed the symmetry in partner abuse rates. The study also revealed that two-thirds of partner violence is mutual, noting that “when both partners are violent, more women than men tend to engage in violence that is more severe than that of their partner.”[2]

In contrast, feminist ideology holds that domestic violence is “all about patriarchal power and control.” The feminist view has been described in this way:

“Feminist theory argues that wife abuse is directly connected to the patriarchal organization of society, which is reflected in the pattern of behaviors and attitudes toward women.…A feminist approach emphasizes the significance of gender inequality and contends that it is a major factor in male-female violence. Violence and abuse are viewed as an expression of social power and become used as a way of men to control and dominate their female partners.”[3]

Such notions are inconsistent with the hundreds of scientific studies summarized above.

Analysis of I-VAWA Findings

The International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) of 2017 [4] features 21 findings. A detailed review of the findings – below — reveals only six are correct (although the stated numbers are incorrect in two out of the six). The remaining 15 findings are found to be one-sided and misleading, unverifiable, demonstrably false, or ideologically-based:

  • Correct: Findings 4, 12, 15, 17, 18, and 19
  • One-sided and misleading: Findings 1, 5, 7, 10, 13, 14, and 21
  • Unverifiable: Findings 2, 8, and 9
  • Demonstrably false: Findings 3, 16, and 20
  • Ideologically-based: Findings 6 and 11

View table of all I-VAWA findings and analyses HERE.

Citations

[1] Esquivel-Santoveña EE, Lambert T, Hamel J. Partner Abuse Worldwide. Partner Abuse Vol. 4, No. 1, 2013. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/springer/pa/2013/00000004/00000001/art00004

[2] Straus MA. Dominance and Symmetry in Partner Violence by Male and Female University Students in 32 Nations. Children and Youth Services Review. Vol. 30, 2008. Table 2.

[3] Rakovec-Felser Z. Domestic Violence and Abuse in Intimate Relationship from Public Health Perspective. Health Psychology Research. Nov. 6, 2014.

[4] https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2120/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22international+violence+against+women+act%22%5D%7D&r=2