SAFE BlogArchive

For centuries, women have been stereotyped as the passive victims of violence and aggression. Yet experts are now warning that record numbers of men are being physically abused by their stressed- out wives and girlfriends.

New figures show that the number of calls to domestic violence helplines from male victims has more than doubled over the past five years. And now one of the world's leading feminist journals will investigate the issue of male abuse for the first time in its history: the Psychology of Women Quarterly will devote a whole edition to research on violent women and their behaviour towards men.

Legislation has been introduced in the California Assembly to combat domestic abuse in same-sex relationships.

Few studies have been done on the issue of abuse within gay households but it is believed to be as widespread as among opposite-sex relationships.

Last year the Assembly held a series of special legislative hearings that explored the problem of same sex domestic abuse and ways the Legislature might work to address it. 

The legislation, introduced by Assemblymember Rebecca Cohn (D-Saratoga) would establish the
Equality in Prevention and Services for Domestic Abuse Fund, a continuously appropriated fund to develop and support education and services specific to LGBT domestic violence.