Madam, - Margaret Martin of Women's Aid (March 2nd) claims that my statement that Women's Aid "has always been a service exclusively for women" is incorrect.
If Women's Aid is now providing services for men as well as women it should update its literature and its website, both of which deal exclusively with violence against women as if violence against men did not exist.
For example, in response to the question "What is Women's Aid?" the website states: "Women's Aid is a voluntary organisation which provides support and information to women and their children who are being physically, emotionally and sexually abused in their own homes". The mission statement states: "Women's Aid is a feminist, political and campaigning organisation committed to the elimination of violence and abuse of women through effecting political, cultural and social change.
"Women's Aid provides direct support services to women experiencing male violence and abuse. This work underpins and informs all other goals and actions of the organisation."
If the group now recognises that men are also victims of domestic violence, it would also need to change its philosophy. In the past it has subscribed to the "feminist model" of domestic violence, which precludes the possibility that women use violence as a means of controlling their male partners.
It would also be appropriate to change the name of the organisation as the current title implies a gender-specific service.
In view of Ms Martin's statement that "men can and do use their service" we would be interested to know what services are provided for men. As we hear from abused men on a daily basis we could refer them to the Women's Aid service, where appropriate, to augment the services we provide.
I note that in 2003 3 per cent of the calls to Women's Aid were from men. In Amen we receive a significant number of calls from women. While the majority of these are seeking advice and support for a man who is suffering domestic violence, some are from abusive women who wish to change their behaviour. Regrettably we cannot refer these women to any appropriate service as there is none in existence in Ireland to help abusive women.- Yours, etc.,
MARY T CLEARY, Amen, Navan, Co.Meath.