
“If domestic violence was an issue women could solve on their own, it would be solved by now.” When I attended my first Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) partner meeting, one of the other attendees – a long-time victim advocate and expert in the field – shared this thought, and it has stuck with me ever since. It is a poignant reminder of the responsibility that men have in addressing intimate partner violence that happens within our communities. In 2022, domestic violence was the primary motive behind homicides in unincorporated Harris County, accounting for 30% of homicides. In 2021, 204 Texans were killed by an intimate partner; 169 of them were women. During the homicides, perpetrators injured an additional 21 victims including four law enforcement officers, six children, and 11 family members and friends. These numbers illustrate the dire and pervasive nature of domestic violence – it not only affects the household but ripples out into neighborhoods and communities. While we recognize that anyone can be a victim or perpetrator of domestic violence, this blog post focuses on the essential role that men play in combating this pervasive problem. Men, as partners, fathers, friends, and community members, have […]