Austalian Psychological Society promotes sexist discrimination -- follow up

Austalian Psychological Society promotes sexist discrimination -- follow up

(reproduced here with permission)

My response

Dear Dr Bob Montgomery PhD FAPS

I was one of the people who contacted you regarding the press release “Family violence is not restrictedb to Indigenous Australians”.

I first contacted Elaine Grant and she then referred me to you. I spoke to you for less then a couple of seconds when you told me to send you a letter you then hung up. I had to call back asking for a contact address and you told me to sent an email through to the APS.

Ash Patil from Fathers for Equality was trying to get in contact with you so I waited to hear your reply. If anyone made offensive or sexist comments, threats etc from our organisation can you please give details and the nature of what was said or implied, although the way you acted towards me was rude as I could not get a word in edge wise once I told you what I was calling for.

The majority of people within our organisation are concerned that there is bias in the system against men and that press releases, such as the one released earlier this month by yourself was a continuance, the press release said “No one can condone attacks on women or children under any circumstances” I could not agree more, why are you painting the picture that domestic violence is only suffered by women and children?
What about domestic violence against men, do you or do you not condone that?
Your press release certainly implies that you don’t care or that it’s not even an issue, even in your field you must see this problem or hear of it from other psychologists, does it not matter when men are on the receiving end of domestic violence?
There was no mention of abuse and violence from women against men and violence from women against children which is just as important.

It again paints a bleak message of men when there is ample evidence that shows that the abuse and violence against man and woman is much the same, and that abuse to children is committed at higher rates by women then men, yet this issue is never heard of.

Domestic violence is a terrible issue for anyone to go through but I request that you change the wording to reflet the whole truth on the matter and to stop painting men as the only perpetrators of this appalling act.

What hope do we have when an organisation such as yours does not openly recognise that men are often on the receiving end of domestic violence and because of media releases such as this there is nowhere for men to go that can truly protect them and there interests.

Yours Truly
Richard (surname withheld)

PS If someone would like to contact 'Richard' or any of the people from fathers4equality or any other group mentioned in this blog, simply send me an email and I'll ask them to get back to you. --PD