NCW expresses concern over rise in domestic violence

Claire Hollier

Jul 21st 2009, 12:48

In the social security act, the head of the family is no longer defined as the 'husband' but amended to 'spouse' implying that benefits may be given to either sex who takes care of the finances of the family, whereas in the marriage act, there is no longer reference to 'the head of the household' but reference to a couple married by civil law where each spouse shares equal responsability and obligations towards the family as a unit. Domestic violence is the last resort of individuals who can not find arguments to justify their position.

Doreen Camilleri

Jul 19th 2009, 23:59

The comment - 'the head of the family'- ...in itself constitutes domestic violence! If one party thinks that he is superior, then he will automatically exhert this power and control over the other family members. ....and that is the basis of Domestic violence!

Michael Neville Cassar

Jul 19th 2009, 17:40

@Charles Grixti
It may be rubbish to you, but believe it or not there are women that are addicted to gambling and yes they do squander the money on Bingo, so much they do not care about washing or taking care of the children. Not all and every women or men are as such, but some can twist you around and you will be surprised how many there are.

Charles Grixti

Jul 19th 2009, 16:56

@ Michael Neville Cassar

What an utter bunch of rubbish! You say that a woman will squander the money given to her by her hard-working husband instead of spending it on the family.

Well the truth proves just the opposite. In survey after survey, it was found that when women had access to money (either from the husband, work or the State) the vast majority would spend it on their children and home. The same surveys found that when the money went to the men, these tended to keep most of it for themselves, and spend it on their pleasures – i.e. prostitutes, gambling and drugs!

In Africa for example, they know that if money is made available to women, poverty and child mortality is alleviated. Not so if the money went to the men.

And by the way, “The Head of the Family’ syndrome, with all that it implies, is so very archaic and has been removed from in modern marriage legislation (save for in Islamic countries). In the West, I believe only the Catholic Church still uses this sexist terminology.

Michael Neville Cassar

Jul 19th 2009, 15:38

@Robert Callus
Domestic violence for both men and women will increase the laws needs to be amended as you have pointed out. If being the father/man is old fashioned and discriminating may I point out families were more together then they are today, there was better up bringing in the families. Some of the ,both sexes do not accept that marriage is a mission of obligations, and that certain life style cannot be kept. Also when things get rough their character and attitude change drastically.

Robert Callus

Jul 19th 2009, 14:23

@Michael Neville Cassar
Considering the father/man as the head of the family is not only oldfashioned but extremely discriminating.

The cases you mentioned do occur, and I believe that the law should be amended to help men in this situation.
However, domestic violence, especially towards woman is definitely on the increase, not only in frequency but in the level of violence used. That some men (like those you mentioned) are in a sad situation, it is of no excuse for others to turn violent, or to deny that this issue is getting out of hand.

Michael Neville Cassar

Jul 19th 2009, 10:41

While I disagree with violence one cannot help noticing that the head of the family (the father the man) of the family is treated as nothing by the law. The wife can go gaming all the income for food given to her leaving the children to be attended by the father day in day out. The law left no way out except either to leave his family and work and even leave for another country. or he keeps supporting her and the children while doing what she likes even going with other men.