TV Double Standards

[fireheart17]

http://www.planetfeedback.com/mtv+ne...+on+mtv/322871

I'm not aware of either of the shows (both of them aren't aired over here in Australia), but that's not the point.

The letter writer here is complaining about the fact that when a man hits a woman, the domestic violence disclaimer is shown (?), but if it's the other way around, it's not shown.

Your thoughts?

[jackfaire]

I agree there is a double standard based on the myth that men are bigger and stronger than women. (I call it a myth because unless every man is bigger and stronger than every woman it isn't true but I digress).

Women can abuse men as easily as men can abuse women and the issue is that men who are abused are laughed at. They are especially if the girl appears physically smaller and beats the crud out of the guy. The guy is then laughed and sometimes not believed. If he is believed and laughed at they act like it's cute that he got beat up by a girl.

Seriously twisted double standard.

[LadyBarbossa]

For the most part, I have to agree. I'm tired of seeing women slap, punch, kick, and punt men in the crotch and it's hilarious, but the other way round is seen as abuse and that the man needs some comeuppance for his actions. We can't be squealing and whining for equality of the sexes and then display a double standard.

However, I've heard of real life situations that do reflect 'equality' in this context. Woman calls the police to report her partner for abusing her. Woman sees partner in handcuffs and on his way to a police cruiser, feels free and empowered, and slaps him across the face. Woman then gets her own pair of handcuffs and a ride to the county jail as well. Not anyone I know, but I was told this at a domestic abuse course I took.

But still, I do see the point of the letter writer and while I'm not sure it warrants complaining to MTV about content warnings, it is a somewhat annoying issue. And maybe we have different ratings than the author, but I've never seen a 'domestic violence' warning in the box. Just plain old 'violence'.

[Bloodsoul]

"I'm all busted up. Broken bones and nasty cuts; and accidents will happen, but this time I can't get up.
She comes to check on me, making sure I'm on my knees; after all she's the one who put me in this state."

— Green Day, "Pulling Teeth"

[Lace Neil Singer]

There's also guy on guy and girl on girl violence, you know. I haven't seen much of domestic violence between gay couples on TV either, but it does happen.

Re: girl on guy violence; a lot of these men have been raised to not ever hit a woman, so even if their girlf/wife really hurts them, they won't hit her back. I have a fiction book that explores the whole concept of a violent girlf; it does it very well.

Interesting links:

http://www.oregoncounseling.org/Hand...iolenceMen.htm
http://www.batteredmen.com/

[MergedLoki]

The worst part is MTV is FULL of hypocrisy (as if that should be news to anyone over the age of 14 :P). They used that specific clip of that girl getting decked as a promo for that new show for like a week to build of anticipation of the show boost ratings etc. And then.... removed that paticular clip from the show... No reason. everyone who's wanted to see the clip has already youtubed it. so nothing is accomplished except proving that when a few whiny people bitch to corporate. Stuff gets done.

And i agree it is a double standard. while I obviously don't think a man should hit a woman (or a woman hit a man) there are exceptions :P (when you're in danger etc. I mean if you come at me with a knife i don't care if you have tits or not I will throw a chair at you lol).

[kibbles]

This is the one double standard that irritates me to no end. I hate it how some women thinks that they can hit, punch, or knee someone and not expect to get cracked back. It's annoying IMO.

[Lace Neil Singer]

A man is still stronger than a woman tho, biologically speaking; so a man cracking a woman back will hurt her more than she hurts him. (Yes, I know there are exceptions, but as a general rule, this is true.)

This does NOT mean he has to stand there and take some bitch's rabbit punches tho. He can restrain her, by grabbing her wrists for example, and should be able to do this without fear of reprisals after she goddamned started on him. But sadly there are a lot of people who automatically take the woman's side without even bothering to learn the details.

Re the book I mentioned earlier; it's called The Chameleon's Shadow by Minette Walters. Deals with this issue extremely well; an abused boyf and an incredibly violent girlf.