Lone Fathers And DV
Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 10:30AM
Dads on the Air in 2010, Discrimination, Domestic Violence, Family Law, Fatherlessness, Men's Groups, Non-Custodial Fathers, Political Activism, Separation / Divorce, Shared Parenting

With special guests:

The Lone Fathers Association of Australia, will host their 2010 National Conference in Parliament House, Canberra, from the 16th to18th June 2010.

In support of this event, we open the show with the founder and long term president of the organization, Barry Williams, who explains the reason for the theme of this year’s presentation, which in 2010 will be: 

Are Shared Care/Responsibility Laws Working ? Are these laws GOOD for our children ? Have we Witnessed ANOTHER generation of stolen children ?

The association points out an interesting statistic, and then asks the following questions:  

Nearly one million dads see their children no more than four times a year.               
Contravention Orders are part of the Family Law Act. Why are they not being enforced?
Why is the contravener of these orders never punished by the Court that made them?     
Why is Domestic Violence portrayed as only ever perpetrated by the male involved?     
Why isn’t Government Funding shared equally between Women and Men’s Organisations?

We then speak with a senior lecturer in psychology at Charles Darwin University, Dr Peter Forster, who says there is no truth to the argument that testosterone levels make men more aggressive. Dr Foster says studies show women can be just as violent as men and social changes are behind a reported rise in violence among young women, and that there is no truth to the argument that testosterone levels make men more aggressive.


Dr Foster makes the observation that social factors such as the rise of feminism in the last few decades, could be behind the rise in violence amongst women. “We’ve now taken away the expectation that women will behave differently to men,” he said. Pointing out that “It used to be that one of the biggest differences” between men and women, “was that women were more peaceful, they were peacemakers”. He draws attention to the research that shows “this kind of inhibition to be violent, has gradually diminished to the point where it no longer inhibits women at all.”

Be sure to listen to next Tuesday’s show for a special exclusive interview with Dr Richard Warshak, who is the author of Divorce Poison, and a guru on parental alienation. In his work Dr Warshak offers specific advice for parents (in Australia usually Dads) whose children are caught up in this toxic situation. 

The Lone Fathers Association, a national Peak Body, is a non-sexist, non-sectarian, non-profit, and self-help educational and welfare organization devoted to the interests of lone fathers, their friends, relatives, grandparents, extended family, carers and children.

Their vision is to assist and encourage parents who have, or desire to have, shared parenting status or care of their children to support and sustain their children in a happy and viable family unit, and to help parents without shared parenting status to maintain adequate, positive contact with their children. .

Membership of the organization is open to all separated parents, with the proviso that members must be willing to help financially support their children. 30% of the membership of the organization are women. New members are always welcome, and can register and pay for membership online.

Professional advisers, lawyers and legislators contribute expertise to the organisation. All volunteers are equal and identify with the organisation’s objectives.

 



Article originally appeared on Dads on the Air (http://www.dadsontheair.com.au/).
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