Misleading campaign trying to con the UK about the horrific level of domestic violence committed by men against women

Why do you assume I'm not doing my bit already?

Well, I'm sure when you've specialised in this area and work in it, you'll be able to push for whatever you find is most useful.

I'd prefer a wider campaign that deals with other factors concerning violence too, for balance.

I read what you said. It's a generalisation you're making, and it's irrelevant.

It is extremely helpful to point to the gendered nature of violence, because it is a huge factor. And it is caused, not by 'being male', but by cultures of toxic masculinity. Men are socialised - and, in some cases, abused by their parents - and made to believe that violence is a masculine way to behave. This ad is targeting exactly that idea, by appealing to men's perceptions of themselves as 'strong' enough to change.

Jeanne I said 'not all of which are easily controllable.', indicating that some might be.

The reason I think drawing only one common similarity between perpetrators, namely their maleness, can be harmful is that it suggests the violence is somehow caused by being male. However other factors could be implicit - drug and alcohol abuse could be just one example.

It's generalising to claim that people's reasons for violence are not 'easily controllable', isn't it? And irrelevant, too.

This ad doesn't generalise. It targets perpetrators of violence.

It is only if you read it and leap from the message to your own internalised prejudice, that it is a problem, I think. If you already believe violence is 50/50, of course you will leap up and down crying foul. But that was the idea. If you want to believe you can't help hitting your kids, you will not like the idea you might be able to change - but, again, that's the point: it might shock you into change.

Because I do not like generalisations. Many different people can be violent for many different reasons, not all of which are easily controllable.

No, it can't - not unless you mean, it confirms to bigots that they're bigots.

This campaign targets perpetrators of violence.

Why do you feel that those people shouldn't be labelled as such?

But an emphasis on highlighting a particular group of people, in terms of being the perpetrators of violence, can come dangerously close, in that it can encourage prejudice.

No one is suggesting you should.

Any 'campaign' needs to be measured and accurate though. Prejudice does not really help, whichever kind it is. You cannot fight one prejudice by replacing it with another.

I agree with that, capsium, but unfortunately, I think the 'violence is gendered' message is aimed at combatting the current prejudice, that violence is 'six of one and half a dozen of the other'. So I think it needs to keep being put out there.

Worzel I understand if you are talking about channelling the appropriate amount of funding into supporting victims. However regarding the investigating crimes, this really does need to be done with no preconceived ideas or prejudices IMHO.

capsium the problem with viewing everyone as individuals is that you can't base policy on individuals. If domestic violence is to be tackled successfully, someone needs to look at the numbers and take notice of the gender difference. On a personal level of course we all judge people as individuals, I'm no man hater, I don't eye all men with suspicion, but the authorities don't have that luxury.

I don't know how I feel about this if I'm completely honest. Whilst I think it's very important that we all recognise that domestic violence is very much a gender issue for the most part, it's certainly unhelpful when anyone talks about violence toward women for people to respond with "what about the mens", most victims are women and most perpetrators are men. That's not to deny that there are male victims and female abusers, but let's start being honest about the numbers.

However, that poster is deliberately inflammatory and doesn't draw a distinction between male abusers and male non-abusers. Just as I don't want to see anything that generalises women, I don't want to see anything that generalises men either. I don't know what the answer is, but I do know that anyone who denies that domestic violence is a gender issue is deluding themselves.

Regardless of statistics, I like to view people as individuals. Just because more men statistically have committed violent acts, according to the data referred, to does not mean the innocent ones are not innocent. I would like each crime to be investigated with no preconceptions. I have male relatives and friends, I don't want them to be regarded with more suspicion just because they are male.

However, saying this, I do feel victims of violence should be supported, male or female. I also feel we should do all we can to discourage violence.