Serious Business: Women Aren't ALWAYS Right

I don't think it's completely fair to say that it's a man's world. I believe there are issues in which men tend to get the shaft. At least, here in Jamaica. Discussions about men's and women's issues tend to be one-sided - from the woman's viewpoint.

Take for instance, domestic abuse. It is ALWAYS, ALWAYS wrong for a man to abuse a woman in any way, be it physical or emotional. It's never right to do something wrong.

I believe that if a man feels he is getting to a point in his relationship where he will have difficulty controlling his anger, he should walk away. Battering his partner CANNOT be the answer. A man should NOT hit a woman; and if he does, he should bear the consequences.

On the other hand, what we don't hear as much about, is the man's side of the story. I'm not talking about the man who is abusive and needs psychological help (that's another discussion). I'm talking about the fact that there are women out there who inflict emotional and yes, physical abuse on their men.

Many women think nothing of screaming at, swearing at, punching, kicking, throwing sharp objects at their man during an argument.

It's just as wrong for a woman to be abusive, as it is for a man.

There are other areas of inequity. How many men are out there who are unknowingly raising children who are not their own? Who are being denied access to their children as the spouse's means of retaliation for a broken relationship? Who are dragged into court for child support when they've lost their jobs, even though they had been faithfully providing for the child while employed?

We need to even out these discussions a bit. It's always wrong to do the wrong thing, whether it's a man doing wrong... or a woman.