Yes. Many of the oft-repeated “facts” about domestic violence turn out not to be facts at all. Unfortunately, many of these “factoids” were the basis for enacting the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).


VAWA promotes policies and programs favored by advocacy groups, but not demonstrated to be effective in either preventing or dealing with domestic violence. The Violence Against Women Act authorized $1.6 Billion in spending, but only $200,000 – or 0.0001% – is earmarked for basic research.


We can’t take effective steps to try to stop domestic violence until we know the truth about what it is and why it happens. This requires accurate, complete, unbiased, independently evaluated research, performed by scientists — not amateurs or advocates.


We simply don’t know whether VAWA policies and programs will work. But there’s one thing we do know about domestic violence victims: When they’re not being helped, they’re being hurt.


There are factoids, and there are facts, about domestic
violence in America.


FACTOID: According to the FBI, a woman is beaten every [fill in the blank] seconds.

FACTS: First, the FBI does not calculate, tabulate, or track data on domestic violence. The FBI once did estimate that a woman is beaten every 15 seconds, but they derived this estimate from Murray Straus, Richard J. Gelles, and Suzanne K. Steinmetz’s book, Behind Closed Doors: Violence in the American Family. Various other fact sheets list various other number of seconds. The number of seconds depends on the study (if there actually was one) and how violence was defined. For example, some versions of this factoid state that a woman is beaten every 9 seconds and cite a study done by the Commonwealth Fund in July 1993. The Commonwealth Fund study used the same measure as was used by Straus and his colleagues. Unlike Straus and his colleagues who defined “abuse” as acts of violence that were likely to cause an injury, the Commonwealth Fund defined “abuse” as everything from pushing, shoving, and slapping to using a gun or knife.



FACTS: First, the FBI does not calculate, tabulate, or track data on domestic violence. The FBI once did estimate that a woman is beaten every 15 seconds, but they derived this estimate from Murray Straus, Richard J. Gelles, and Suzanne K. Steinmetz’s book, Behind Closed Doors: Violence in the American Family. Various other fact sheets list various other number of seconds. The number of seconds depends on the study (if there actually was one) and how violence was defined. For example, some versions of this factoid state that a woman is beaten every 9 seconds and cite a study done by the Commonwealth Fund in July 1993. The Commonwealth Fund study used the same measure as was used by Straus and his colleagues. Unlike Straus and his colleagues who defined “abuse” as acts of violence that were likely to cause an injury, the Commonwealth Fund defined “abuse” as everything from pushing, shoving, and slapping to using a gun or knife.


FACTS: First, the FBI does not calculate, tabulate, or track data on domestic violence. The FBI once did estimate that a woman is beaten every 15 seconds, but they derived this estimate from Murray Straus, Richard J. Gelles, and Suzanne K. Steinmetz’s book, Behind Closed Doors: Violence in the American Family. Various other fact sheets list various other number of seconds. The number of seconds depends on the study (if there actually was one) and how violence was defined. For example, some versions of this factoid state that a woman is beaten every 9 seconds and cite a study done by the Commonwealth Fund in July 1993. The Commonwealth Fund study used the same measure as was used by Straus and his colleagues. Unlike Straus and his colleagues who defined “abuse” as acts of violence that were likely to cause an injury, the Commonwealth Fund defined “abuse” as everything from pushing, shoving, and slapping to using a gun or knife.


FACTS: First, the FBI does not calculate, tabulate, or track data on domestic violence. The FBI once did estimate that a woman is beaten every 15 seconds, but they derived this estimate from Murray Straus, Richard J. Gelles, and Suzanne K. Steinmetz’s book, Behind Closed Doors: Violence in the American Family. Various other fact sheets list various other number of seconds. The number of seconds depends on the study (if there actually was one) and how violence was defined. For example, some versions of this factoid state that a woman is beaten every 9 seconds and cite a study done by the Commonwealth Fund in July 1993. The Commonwealth Fund study used the same measure as was used by Straus and his colleagues. Unlike Straus and his colleagues who defined “abuse” as acts of violence that were likely to cause an injury, the Commonwealth Fund defined “abuse” as everything from pushing, shoving, and slapping to using a gun or knife.



FACTOID: There are four million women beaten and abused each year.

FACTS: Same problems as above. The Straus, Gelles, and Steinmetz survey estimated that 2 million women were abused each year by their husbands. Straus and his colleagues speculated that if all the respondents told the truth and if ex-husbands and boyfriends were included, the number could be as high as 4 million. However, no study to date using a representative sample and measuring severe violence has found more than 2 million abused
women each year.
 



FACTS: Same problems as above. The Straus, Gelles, and Steinmetz survey estimated that 2 million women were abused each year by their husbands. Straus and his colleagues speculated that if all the respondents told the truth and if ex-husbands and boyfriends were included, the number could be as high as 4 million. However, no study to date using a representative sample and measuring severe violence has found more than 2 million abused
women each year.
 


FACTS: Same problems as above. The Straus, Gelles, and Steinmetz survey estimated that 2 million women were abused each year by their husbands. Straus and his colleagues speculated that if all the respondents told the truth and if ex-husbands and boyfriends were included, the number could be as high as 4 million. However, no study to date using a representative sample and measuring severe violence has found more than 2 million abused
women each year.
 


FACTS: Same problems as above. The Straus, Gelles, and Steinmetz survey estimated that 2 million women were abused each year by their husbands. Straus and his colleagues speculated that if all the respondents told the truth and if ex-husbands and boyfriends were included, the number could be as high as 4 million. However, no study to date using a representative sample and measuring severe violence has found more than 2 million abused
women each year.
 


FACTOID: Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States-more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined.

FACTS: This factoid has been attributed to both Surgeon General Antonia Novello and the Centers for Disease Control. The actual primary source of this “fact” is research by Evan Stark and Ann Flitcraft. It was probably Stark and Flitcraft who supplied the fact to CDC, which then included it in material supplied to the Surgeon General. Unfortunately, as good a sound bite as this is, it is simply not true. The original source of this statement goes back to two papers by Stark and Flitcraft. First, the actual research the “fact” is based on is a rather small survey of one emergency room. Second, in the original articles, they said that domestic violence may (emphasis added) be a more common cause of emergency room visits than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined. Linda Saltzman from the Centers for Disease Control tells all journalists who call to check this fact that the CDC does not recognize this as either their fact or a reputable fact.



FACTS: This factoid has been attributed to both Surgeon General Antonia Novello and the Centers for Disease Control. The actual primary source of this “fact” is research by Evan Stark and Ann Flitcraft. It was probably Stark and Flitcraft who supplied the fact to CDC, which then included it in material supplied to the Surgeon General. Unfortunately, as good a sound bite as this is, it is simply not true. The original source of this statement goes back to two papers by Stark and Flitcraft. First, the actual research the “fact” is based on is a rather small survey of one emergency room. Second, in the original articles, they said that domestic violence may (emphasis added) be a more common cause of emergency room visits than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined. Linda Saltzman from the Centers for Disease Control tells all journalists who call to check this fact that the CDC does not recognize this as either their fact or a reputable fact.


FACTS: This factoid has been attributed to both Surgeon General Antonia Novello and the Centers for Disease Control. The actual primary source of this “fact” is research by Evan Stark and Ann Flitcraft. It was probably Stark and Flitcraft who supplied the fact to CDC, which then included it in material supplied to the Surgeon General. Unfortunately, as good a sound bite as this is, it is simply not true. The original source of this statement goes back to two papers by Stark and Flitcraft. First, the actual research the “fact” is based on is a rather small survey of one emergency room. Second, in the original articles, they said that domestic violence may (emphasis added) be a more common cause of emergency room visits than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined. Linda Saltzman from the Centers for Disease Control tells all journalists who call to check this fact that the CDC does not recognize this as either their fact or a reputable fact.


FACTS: This factoid has been attributed to both Surgeon General Antonia Novello and the Centers for Disease Control. The actual primary source of this “fact” is research by Evan Stark and Ann Flitcraft. It was probably Stark and Flitcraft who supplied the fact to CDC, which then included it in material supplied to the Surgeon General. Unfortunately, as good a sound bite as this is, it is simply not true. The original source of this statement goes back to two papers by Stark and Flitcraft. First, the actual research the “fact” is based on is a rather small survey of one emergency room. Second, in the original articles, they said that domestic violence may (emphasis added) be a more common cause of emergency room visits than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined. Linda Saltzman from the Centers for Disease Control tells all journalists who call to check this fact that the CDC does not recognize this as either their fact or a reputable fact.



FACTOID: The March of Dimes reports that battering during pregnancy is the leading cause of birth defects and infant mortality.

FACTS: The March of Dimes actually reports that they know of no such study.



FACTS: The March of Dimes actually reports that they know of no such study.


FACTS: The March of Dimes actually reports that they know of no such study.


FACTS: The March of Dimes actually reports that they know of no such study.



FACTOID: Sixty-three percent of young men between the ages of 11 and 20 who are serving time for homicide have killed their mother’s abuser.

FACTS: This factoid is often used by Sarah Buel in her speeches. It appears to be yet another fact from nowhere. The FBI has published no data that support this claim. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports has no tables that report on prison populations, let alone a table or figure that breaks down prison populations by age of offender and relationship to victim. There are no Department of Justice reports that report on what number or percentage of young men kill their mother’s batterer.



FACTS: This factoid is often used by Sarah Buel in her speeches. It appears to be yet another fact from nowhere. The FBI has published no data that support this claim. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports has no tables that report on prison populations, let alone a table or figure that breaks down prison populations by age of offender and relationship to victim. There are no Department of Justice reports that report on what number or percentage of young men kill their mother’s batterer.


FACTS: This factoid is often used by Sarah Buel in her speeches. It appears to be yet another fact from nowhere. The FBI has published no data that support this claim. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports has no tables that report on prison populations, let alone a table or figure that breaks down prison populations by age of offender and relationship to victim. There are no Department of Justice reports that report on what number or percentage of young men kill their mother’s batterer.


FACTS: This factoid is often used by Sarah Buel in her speeches. It appears to be yet another fact from nowhere. The FBI has published no data that support this claim. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports has no tables that report on prison populations, let alone a table or figure that breaks down prison populations by age of offender and relationship to victim. There are no Department of Justice reports that report on what number or percentage of young men kill their mother’s batterer.



FACTOID: Family violence has killed more women in the last five years than the total number of Americans who were killed in the Vietnam War.

FACTS: This factoid was often used by Dr. Robert McAfee, past president of the American Medical Association. There were about 55,000 American casualties in the Vietnam War. According to the FBI, Uniform Crime Statistics, about 1,500 women are killed by their husbands or boyfriends each year. The total number of women homicide victims each year is about 5,000. Thus, in 5 years, even if every woman who was killed was killed by a family member, the total would still be one-half the number of American casualties in Vietnam.



FACTS: This factoid was often used by Dr. Robert McAfee, past president of the American Medical Association. There were about 55,000 American casualties in the Vietnam War. According to the FBI, Uniform Crime Statistics, about 1,500 women are killed by their husbands or boyfriends each year. The total number of women homicide victims each year is about 5,000. Thus, in 5 years, even if every woman who was killed was killed by a family member, the total would still be one-half the number of American casualties in Vietnam.


FACTS: This factoid was often used by Dr. Robert McAfee, past president of the American Medical Association. There were about 55,000 American casualties in the Vietnam War. According to the FBI, Uniform Crime Statistics, about 1,500 women are killed by their husbands or boyfriends each year. The total number of women homicide victims each year is about 5,000. Thus, in 5 years, even if every woman who was killed was killed by a family member, the total would still be one-half the number of American casualties in Vietnam.


FACTS: This factoid was often used by Dr. Robert McAfee, past president of the American Medical Association. There were about 55,000 American casualties in the Vietnam War. According to the FBI, Uniform Crime Statistics, about 1,500 women are killed by their husbands or boyfriends each year. The total number of women homicide victims each year is about 5,000. Thus, in 5 years, even if every woman who was killed was killed by a family member, the total would still be one-half the number of American casualties in Vietnam.



FACTOID: Women who leave their batterers are at a 75 percent greater risk of being killed by the batterer than those who stay.

FACTS: Women are more likely to be victims of homicide when they are estranged from their husbands than when they live with their husbands — but not a 75% greater risk. The risk of homicide is higher in the first two months after separation.
SOURCE: Wilson, Margo and Martin Daly (1993). “Spousal homicide risk and estrangement.” Violence and Victims, 8, 3-16.



FACTS: Women are more likely to be victims of homicide when they are estranged from their husbands than when they live with their husbands — but not a 75% greater risk. The risk of homicide is higher in the first two months after separation.
SOURCE: Wilson, Margo and Martin Daly (1993). “Spousal homicide risk and estrangement.” Violence and Victims, 8, 3-16.


FACTS: Women are more likely to be victims of homicide when they are estranged from their husbands than when they live with their husbands — but not a 75% greater risk. The risk of homicide is higher in the first two months after separation.
SOURCE: Wilson, Margo and Martin Daly (1993). “Spousal homicide risk and estrangement.” Violence and Victims, 8, 3-16.


FACTS: Women are more likely to be victims of homicide when they are estranged from their husbands than when they live with their husbands — but not a 75% greater risk. The risk of homicide is higher in the first two months after separation.
SOURCE: Wilson, Margo and Martin Daly (1993). “Spousal homicide risk and estrangement.” Violence and Victims, 8, 3-16.



FACTOID: Women who kill their batterers receive longer prison sentences than men who kill their partners.

FACTS: This factoid is often attributed to someone from Pace University. There is no actual published source for this. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Violence Between Intimates (November 1994), the average prison sentence for men who killed their wives is 17.5 years; the average sentence for women convicted of killing their husbands was 6.2 years.



FACTS: This factoid is often attributed to someone from Pace University. There is no actual published source for this. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Violence Between Intimates (November 1994), the average prison sentence for men who killed their wives is 17.5 years; the average sentence for women convicted of killing their husbands was 6.2 years.


FACTS: This factoid is often attributed to someone from Pace University. There is no actual published source for this. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Violence Between Intimates (November 1994), the average prison sentence for men who killed their wives is 17.5 years; the average sentence for women convicted of killing their husbands was 6.2 years.


FACTS: This factoid is often attributed to someone from Pace University. There is no actual published source for this. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Violence Between Intimates (November 1994), the average prison sentence for men who killed their wives is 17.5 years; the average sentence for women convicted of killing their husbands was 6.2 years.



FACTOIDS FROM THE RIGHT OF CENTER


FACTOID: Women are as violent as are men, and women initiate violence as often as do men.

FACTS: This factoid cites research by Murray Straus, Suzanne Steinmetz, and Richard Gelles, as well as a host of other self-report surveys. Those using this factoid tend to conveniently leave out the fact that Straus and his colleagues’ surveys as well as data collected from the National Crime Victimization Survey (Bureau of Justice Statistics) consistently find that no matter what the rate of violence of who initiates the violence, women are 7 to 10 times more likely to be injured in acts of intimate violence than are men.



FACTS: This factoid cites research by Murray Straus, Suzanne Steinmetz, and Richard Gelles, as well as a host of other self-report surveys. Those using this factoid tend to conveniently leave out the fact that Straus and his colleagues’ surveys as well as data collected from the National Crime Victimization Survey (Bureau of Justice Statistics) consistently find that no matter what the rate of violence of who initiates the violence, women are 7 to 10 times more likely to be injured in acts of intimate violence than are men.


FACTS: This factoid cites research by Murray Straus, Suzanne Steinmetz, and Richard Gelles, as well as a host of other self-report surveys. Those using this factoid tend to conveniently leave out the fact that Straus and his colleagues’ surveys as well as data collected from the National Crime Victimization Survey (Bureau of Justice Statistics) consistently find that no matter what the rate of violence of who initiates the violence, women are 7 to 10 times more likely to be injured in acts of intimate violence than are men.


FACTS: This factoid cites research by Murray Straus, Suzanne Steinmetz, and Richard Gelles, as well as a host of other self-report surveys. Those using this factoid tend to conveniently leave out the fact that Straus and his colleagues’ surveys as well as data collected from the National Crime Victimization Survey (Bureau of Justice Statistics) consistently find that no matter what the rate of violence of who initiates the violence, women are 7 to 10 times more likely to be injured in acts of intimate violence than are men.



OTHER FACTOIDS FROM NOWHERE


FACTOID: 4,000 women each year are killed by their husbands, ex-husbands, or boyfriends.

FACTS: The FBI reports that approximately 1,500 women are killed each year by husbands or boyfriends. Even if one factors in the number of women killed by unidentified or undetermined assailants, the number could not be 4,000.



FACTS: The FBI reports that approximately 1,500 women are killed each year by husbands or boyfriends. Even if one factors in the number of women killed by unidentified or undetermined assailants, the number could not be 4,000.


FACTS: The FBI reports that approximately 1,500 women are killed each year by husbands or boyfriends. Even if one factors in the number of women killed by unidentified or undetermined assailants, the number could not be 4,000.


FACTS: The FBI reports that approximately 1,500 women are killed each year by husbands or boyfriends. Even if one factors in the number of women killed by unidentified or undetermined assailants, the number could not be 4,000.



FACTOID: Women of all cultures, races, occupations, income levels, and ages are battered-by husbands, boyfriends, lovers and partners.


FACTS: While this fact is technically true, it is also true that domestic violence is more likely to occur in homes below the poverty line, in minority households (even controlling for income), and among men and women 18 to 30 years of age.



FACTOID: Nationally, 50 percent of all homeless women and children are on the streets because of violence in the home.

FACTS: An interesting factoid stated by Senator Biden, but one without any actual published scientific research to support it.



FACTS: An interesting factoid stated by Senator Biden, but one without any actual published scientific research to support it.


FACTS: An interesting factoid stated by Senator Biden, but one without any actual published scientific research to support it.


FACTS: An interesting factoid stated by Senator Biden, but one without any actual published scientific research to support it.



FACTOID: There are nearly three times as many animal shelters in the United States as there are shelters for battered women and their children.

FACTS: Another great sound bite, but not one actually based on a verified count of either type of shelter.



FACTS: Another great sound bite, but not one actually based on a verified count of either type of shelter.


FACTS: Another great sound bite, but not one actually based on a verified count of either type of shelter.


FACTS: Another great sound bite, but not one actually based on a verified count of either type of shelter.