Don't dismiss the views of a new generation

The emBoston Globe /emhas an article a href=”http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/03/13/many_boston_teens_surveyed_say_rihanna_is_at_fault_for_assault/”today pointing out a survey /athat shows many Boston teens say Rihanna is at fault for the assault by Chris Brown. I haven’t really followed the story much–seems that those in the music business are always fighting, e.g. take a a href=”http://drhelen.blogspot.com/2007/09/rock-star-foreplay.html”look at Amy Winehouse/a who admits instigating violence against her boyfriend. I do think that one of the comments following this article made a valid point:br /br /blockquoteSHE STARTED THE FIGHT AND SHE HIT HIM, GAVE HIM A FAT LIP. IF THE GENDERS WERE REVERSED, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED FIGHTING FOR SELF DEFENSE. THEY ARE BOTH GUILTY. THE IDEA THAT THE MALE HAS TO BE GUILTY IS PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH DV LAW TODAY – THE ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH TO ALL VIOLENCE IN RELATIONSHIPS WERE THE MAN IS ALWAYS GUILTY AND THE WOMEN IS ALWAYS THE VICTIM. FEMINIST THEORY MAKES BAD LAW. THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MEN ACROSS THIS COUNTRY WHO HAVE BEEN ATTACKED BY THESE BIASED HATE LAWS. by PJ1 March 13, 10:55 AM/blockquote br /br /Naturally, the article talks about how health groups are concerned that the Boston teens say that both of the participants were at fault. Maybe they should take that as a sign and help both genders understand that reciprocal violence can lead to injury and problems for both concerned, rather than just tell women they are victims, and men, the perpetrators.