Guy Wisdom
Dr. Lee, an associate professor of the De La Salle University's (DLSU) Behavioral Sciences Department, defines social intervention as "any form of effort that's meant to change people's knowledge, values, or to offer them skills." These can be in the form of one-on-one counseling, mass media intervention or group workshops.
"I argued that we have to introduce interventions and do studies on men because they are at the heart of the domestic violence phenomenon. They have been identified primarily as the sources of violence. Eight out of 10 of these sources of violence are men…you talk about fathers, uncles, and brothers," says Dr. Lee. "That was the reason why I proposed a study on men. It was meant to examine values, beliefs, and the willingness of men to change their violent behavior."
Another study by DLSU's Social Development Research Center underscores the lack of involvement of Filipino men in women's health initiatives, including research and action projects or interventions on domestic violence. Only six of 20 action projects drew men, while there have been only two documented studies on the subject. Also in such projects, participation was limited to attendance of seminars or orientations, receiving educational materials, counseling or mediation sessions, or membership in community-based task forces.
Dr. Lee adds that in spite of RA 9262, few men are jailed because their wives don't want them there. "If the source of violence remains, unmodified beha-viorally, where would these women and children go?" he offers. "Eventually, they just go back to the [abusive] husband."
Garcia also sees the possibility of reform by directing attention to the traditional socialization of men and women. "Men want to maintain the image that they're macho and superior. On the other hand, women are expected to be subordinate and it's not good to have the opposite image. All the while, we see that there are men who say that it's hard to cope with that social pressure, to maintain that image," she says. "They can't cry, for instance, because they feel society will judge them. Even the acceptance of their weakness, they cover it up. Sadly, to cover it up, the manifestation is violence."
Unfortunately, most of the measures against domestic violence are interim solutions. "Otherwise with only therapy and counseling for the women, the root problem is not being targeted. What will happen? Parang nagba-band aid lang kami sa mga sugat ng mga babae," she says. "Pagbalik nila, nasusugatan na naman sila."
In other countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, there are behavior modification programs for men even while incarcerated. "In the Philippines, incarceration is a one-stop shop. It's the end of your life. That's what saddens me," says Dr. Lee. "While we recognize the need to punish, we should also recognize the need to give a second chance."
In Australia, however, a study on perpetrator programs revealed that they might hamper criminal justice response to abusers and the protection of women if unmonitored. Another contention is that such programs could redirect resources intended for women and children's services. In the Philippines where the latter is already limited, this is an even more valid concern.
Though the feasibility of perpetrator programs remains debatable in the country and other parts of the world, the idea magnifies the need for long-term solutions to domestic violence. "If you analyze the readiness of the Filipino family in providing support for violent behavior change, I don't think it's there. If you go out of that family system and you look around what's available outside that family, you'll also find that the larger society is not ready to deal with it. What do we have? You see that the male population has to be dealt with using force, like arrest and incarceration. That's the only response," says Dr. Lee. "Counseling or other culturally and socially sensitive interventions for men aren't there. We meet the violence of men with violence. For me, it may be [an option] but it's not the only option."
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Men's Health Philippines - February 2006 Issue
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