Sen. Reid is Cherry-Picking the Research, Experts Say

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sen. Harry Reid's claim about male unemployment and domestic violence is misleading and false because it selectively chooses the data, domestic violence experts say. On February 22, Reid claimed on the Senate floor that "women aren't abusive, most of the time. Men, when they're out of work, tend to become abusive."

Now, 16 groups are calling on Reid to issue an apology for unfairly stereotyping men: http://abusegate.mensnewsdaily.com/2010/02/23/press-release-groups-demand-sen-harry-reid-apologize-for-sexist-remarks/

Over 250 scholarly studies show women are as physically aggressive, or more aggressive, than men in their relationships with their male partners, according to Martin Fiebert, professor of psychology at California State University: http://www.csulb.edu/~mfiebert/assault.htm

Mainstream researchers have documented how domestic violence advocates often misrepresent the research:

• Advocates have "let their ideological commitments overrule their scientific commitments" – Murray Straus, PhD, University of New Hampshire
• New research data "are largely overlooked or discounted." – Miriam Ehrensaft, PhD, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
• Widespread domestic violence myths may be "harmful to women, men, children, and the institution of the family." – Richard Gelles, PhD, University of Pennsylvania

"Sen. Reid's one-sided comments are the latest example how persons slice-and-dice the data to mislead the public," according to Marty Nemko, PhD of the National Organization of Men. "If Sen. Reid truly wants to help unemployed men, he should stop unfairly vilifying them as abusers and make sure his new jobs bill targets those in greatest need."

A recent Special Report, "Fifty Domestic Violence Myths," documents that many assertions of the domestic violence industry are one-sided, unverifiable, or false: http://www.mediaradar.org/docs/RADARreport-50-DV-Myths.pdf

Now the "Abusegate, Investigate!" campaign is requesting a Congressional probe into the misleading claims and falsehoods espoused by industry representatives: http://abusegate.mensnewsdaily.com/.

Two years ago Carol Burger of Boynton Beach, Fla. became unemployed and broke-up with her live-in girlfriend Jessica Kalish. On October 29, 2008, Burger attacked Kalish with a household screwdriver, stabbing her 222 times. Then Burger took her own life.

Days before the murder-suicide, Berger emailed a friend about her financial quandary: "I was really annoyed when I found out that Jess let her life insurance lapse for lack of payment."

Research confirms that unemployment and financial strain can increase the risk of partner violence but does not, as Senator Reid alleges, result in more violence from men than women.

SOURCE Stop Abusive and Violent Environments