Friday, 7 June 2024

"Men Discriminated by Duluth Model"

This article has not been written to point the fingers at women, but rather to highlight the injustices associated with the Duluth Model and to explain its implications and repercussion's. 

The Duluth Model, was developed in the 1980s to address domestic violence and abuse, and has been critiqued for its one-dimensional view of power and control dynamics, predominantly portraying men as perpetrators and women as victims. This approach has led to criticisms regarding its fairness and effectiveness, as it overlooks the many instances where men are victims and women are perpetrators. By examining these issues, the article aims to foster a more balanced understanding of domestic violence and abuse, that acknowledges the complexities of all parties involved.

The History of the Duluth Wheel Model, the Controversy, and Implications

History and Development

The Duluth Model was developed in 1981 in Duluth, Minnesota, by a coalition of women's advocates, law enforcement officials, and community leaders who sought to create a more effective response to domestic violence. The model is cantered on the "Power and Control Wheel," which outlines various tactics used by abusers to exert control over their victims. The model emphasises that domestic violence is a result of patriarchal ideologies and systemic power imbalances (Pence & Paymar, 1993).

Controversy

Presumption of Guilt and Gender Bias

One of the primary criticisms of the Duluth Model is its inherent gender bias. The model is often perceived as presuming the guilt of men accused of domestic violence and inherently favouring women's accusations. Critics argue that the Duluth Model operates under the assumption that domestic violence is predominantly male-perpetrated and female-victimised, which can lead to unjust outcomes. For instance, Dutton and Corvo (2006) assert that the model's approach can result in situations where men are forced to prove their innocence, while women's accusations are taken at face value without substantial evidence.

Dutton (2006) argues that "the model's gendered perspective can lead to a lack of due process for accused men, who may be presumed guilty based on the model's assumptions rather than actual evidence." This perspective can significantly impact how domestic violence cases are handled, potentially leading to biased outcomes that do not accurately reflect the complexities of each, and individual cases. 

Impact on Training and Professional Practice

The Duluth Model is widely implemented through training programs for law enforcement Police officers, judicial personnel, and social service departments, including childrens social services. These programs are designed to educate professionals on recognising the signs of power and control dynamics in abusive relationships, prioritising victim safety, and ensuring offender accountability. Training typically includes workshops, role-playing scenarios, and case studies, all of which emphasise the model's core principles (Pence & Shepard, 1999).

Agencies involved in implementing the Duluth Model include countrywide Police authorities, domestic violence shelters, and social services including childrens social services. These agencies work together to provide a coordinated community response to domestic violence, with the aim of protecting victims and holding perpetrators accountable. However, the model's gendered approach can sometimes result in skewed perceptions and responses to domestic violence incidents, particularly those involving male victims or female perpetrators (Corvo, Dutton, & Chen, 2008).

Implications for Family Court Outcomes

Custody Decisions and Evidentiary Standard

The Duluth Model's principles can significantly influence family court outcomes, especially in custody disputes. Judges and child protection workers trained in the model may be more inclined to believe the mother's claims of abuse, potentially leading to custody decisions that favor the mother based on allegations alone. This can and often disadvantage fathers who are accused of abuse and may not have the opportunity, means and resources to adequately defend themselves (Corvo et al., 2008).

The model's emphasis on believing victims often lower the evidentiary standards required to prove allegations of abuse. In some cases, accusations alone may suffice to impact court decisions, which can result in unfair treatment of accused individuals who lack the means to provide a robust defense (Dutton & Corvo, 2006).

Societal Implications

Homelessness and Mental Health

The societal implications of the Duluth Model extend to issues such as male homelessness and mental health. Men accused of domestic violence or abuse, who subsequently lose access to their homes, families, and children may experience significant psychological and financial stress. This often contributes to increased rates of homelessness, depression, and suicidal tendencies among accused men though very rarely if at all, addressed or spoken about in the public spear (Hines & Douglas, 2010).

Bias in Addressing Gender-Based Violence

The Duluth Model's focus on addressing misogyny and protecting female victims has been criticised for not adequately addressing the issue of misandry. By predominantly framing domestic violence and domestic abuse as a male-perpetrated issue, the model may inadvertently marginalises male victims and obscure the reality of female-perpetrated violence. This can create a societal bias that fails to recognise and address the full spectrum of domestic violence and domestic abuse, ultimately hindering the development of more inclusive and effective intervention strategies (Corvo et al., 2008).

Conclusion

The Duluth Model has significantly shaped domestic violence intervention strategies by emphasising the need to protect victims as women and not men, and does not hold women perpetrators accountable. As a result, its gendered framework and the presumption of male guilt have sparked significant controversy not just in theory but in practice. The model's implementation in family courts and its broader societal implications highlights the need for a more balanced approach, that acknowledges all forms of domestic violence and domestic abuse, ensuring fairness for both accused individuals and victims, for both men and women. 

Put simply, manipulation happens when we focus on the effects, and not to unlock the cause of the effects. By creating an imbalanced strategical system such as the Duluth model, and adopting it into a society where the people as a whole who it will affect in all future judicial outcomes, are unaware of the intricate principles, is arguably underhanded, and actually undermines the plate for women's safety of which is a million miles from the the intention of Fatherless Britain, but to address the issues in order to create a safer society for our daughters. 

The fact that Norfolk County Council is still using the Duluth wheel model, all be it their own version, and on the date of writing this article there is a direct link to the Duluth Model website showing their affiliation to the Duluth Model. This fact shows the influence the Duluth Wheel Model has had, and is still has in creating the false narrative of one-way domestic abuse, with a clear bias against half of the population. That being, your brother's, your son's, your uncle's, and your father's. Yet next week, we'll all be hypercritically celebrating what now appears to be a farce of Father's day. 

 

Norfolk County Council's version of the Duluth Wheel Model
Norfolk County Council's version of the Duluth Wheel Model

        

Norfolk County Council. (n.d.). Power and control wheel. [online] Friday 7th June 2024, Available at: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/article/43699/Power-and-control-wheel.

The Duluth Model Wheel Information Centre
The Duluth Model Wheel Information Centre


Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs (2017). Wheels - Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs. [online] Friday 7th June 2024, Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs. Available at: https://www.theduluthmodel.org/wheels/

Alienating good innocent men by making them endure the repercussions of the behaviour's and actions of a few bad individuals, is counterproductive and unjust. This approach does not address the true causes or issues related to gender-based violence and inequality. Instead, it fosters division between men and women, and undermines genuine efforts to address and resolve these issues. A more effective strategy would involve focusing on the actual perpetrators of harmful behaviour's, while fostering a collaboration and understanding between genders to create a more equitable society.

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References

Corvo, K., Dutton, D., & Chen, W. (2008). Do Duluth Model interventions with perpetrators of domestic violence violate due process? Journal of Family Violence, 23(5), 385-396.

Dutton, D. G. (2006). Rethinking Domestic Violence. UBC Press.

Dutton, D. G., & Corvo, K. (2006). Transforming a flawed policy: A call to revive psychology and science in domestic violence research and practice. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 11(5), 457-483.

Hines, D. A., & Douglas, E. M. (2010). Intimate Partner Violence Among Men. Springer.

Pence, E., & Paymar, M. (1993). Education Groups for Men Who Batter: The Duluth Model. Springer Publishing Company.

Pence, E., & Shepard, M. (1999). Coordinating Community Responses to Domestic Violence: Lessons from Duluth and Beyond. Sage Publications.

Duluth Model by Fatherless Britain throughout the UK
Duluth Wheel Model used by local throughout UK and Family Courts


Duluth Model by Fatherless Britain Explained
Duluth Wheel Model Explained by Fatherless Britain

Power and Control Wheel Breakdown

VIOLENCE NW
Coercion & Threats
Making and/or carrying out threats to do something to hurt her, commit suicide, or report her to welfare. Making her drop charges. Making her do illegal things

Rochford Community College New York

https://sunyrockland.edu/about/dei/domestic-violence/understanding-the-power-and-control-perspective-wheel/

VIOLENCE NE
Intimidation
Making her afraid by using looks, actions and gestures. Smashing things. Destroying her property. Abusing pets. Displaying weapons.

(Link 3rd  result in organic Google search results,  Norfolk County Council using the original Duluth Model)

https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/article/43699/Power-and-control-wheel

Sexual EN
Emotional Abuse
Putting her down. Making her feel bad about herself. Calling her names. Making her think she's crazy. Playing mind games. Humiliating her. Making her feel guilty.

https://www.fatherly.com/love-money/power-and-control-wheel-abusive-relationships

Sexual ES
Isolation
Controlling what she does, who she sees and talks to, what she reads, and where she goes. Limiting her outside involvement. Using jealousy to justify actions.

https://www.dawsonwomensshelter.com/blog/what-is-gaslighting

VIOLENCE SE
Minimizing Denying & Blaming
Making light of abuse. Not taking her concerns about it seriously. Saying the abuse didn't happen. Shifting responsibility for abusive behavior. Saying she caused it.

https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/article/43699/Power-and-control-wheel

VIOLENCE SW
Using Children
Making her feel guilty about the children. Using the children to relay messages. Using visitation to harass her. Threatening to take the children away

https://freeva.org.uk/what-does-domestic-abuse-look-like/

Physical WS
Economic Abuse
Preventing her from getting or keeping a job. Making her ask for money. Giving her an allowance. Taking her money. Not letting her know about or have access to family income.

https://survivingeconomicabuse.org/what-is-economic-abuse/#:~:text=Economic%20abuse%20is%20a%20legally,things%20that%20money%20can%20buy.

Physical WN
Male Privilege
Treating her like a servant. Making all the big decisions. Acting like "master of the castle." Being the one to define men's and women's roles.
(Norfolk County Council)
https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/article/43699/Power-and-control-wheel

• Home Office

Statutory guidance

Controlling or coercive behaviour: statutory guidance framework (accessible)

Updated 27 July 2023

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/controlling-or-coercive-behaviour-statutory-guidance-framework/controlling-or-coercive-behaviour-statutory-guidance-framework-accessible

David Lloyd-Hoare

https://www.counsellinghelp.co.uk/abuse_problems_resolved_by_torquay_paignton_and_exeter_counsellor.html

For a clear example of how this is being implemented and used to abuse men to the detriment of society, view the page  Father's Day 2021

"The Duluth Model and Knife Crime"


Young man says, "I'm not having children because..." 

His not aware his describing some elements of the Duluth Wheel Model!


For a clear example of how the Duluth Wheel Model is being implemented and used to legally abuse men to the detriment of society, view the page, Father's Day 2021

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4 comments:

  1. Wow, this is shockingly disgusting, and disturbing!
    This so called Duluth wheel model, not only immoraly alienates men, but it's actually undermining women's plights for our safety and inequality. I hope more women see this! I'll be sharing it.
    Great article FatherlessBritain, keep up the good work.
    All the best to you, Katie Williams xx❤️

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow very good information, it is shocking to see that they are using such a system instead of jugging every case on its own merit like we have been lead to believe. Great work FatherlessBritain I will be sharing this near and far 🙏🏾❤️.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This ain't right, Why don't people know about this?
    This needs to be taken out of the training system and all people that have been trained to work this way need re training, on top of that there needs to be a body set up to ensure that all further cases are not subject to this as old habits die hard

    ReplyDelete
  4. Interesting read. The Duluth model also ignores the link between domestic violence and substance use disorders.

    ReplyDelete

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