So I was in a live debate the other night and the topic revolved around gender equality. One of panelists kept referring to some domestic violence stats that were questionable at best, as they were grossly skewed toward a false 50/50 perpetrator gender ratio.
Being very well researched and informed on gender-based violence, it was easy for me to discern that this man was quoting a questionable source.
Finally I had the opportunity to inquire what source to which he kept referring: Coalition to End Domestic Violence (quite similar to a legitimate DV source: Children Exposed to Domestic Violence).
As I was going through topics and areas of this website, I noticed an “exposé” on the “Coronavirus Abuse Hoax'“. Upon opening the WordPress 🤔 document… I noticed that none of the graphs had any kind of citations other than simple text vaguely describing the graph.
The man who used this source was adamantly convinced that there were citations, so I started hunting around the website of “studies” or “exposes” for cited references. After some time, I found one and oddly enough almost every source cited was from the very same website I was on. (see video below)
A few questionable things of note about this website include links to 404, self-citations, and the iffy, biased language used… As the kids would say: It was giving “not all men” and “what about women” —very decentering of men as the main perpetrators — against statistics supported and well established by many international organizations that track gender-based violence.
There was intense over-emphasis on false allegations against men, the unreality of over-criminalization, and the purported neglect of male victims, which are some pretty manosphere-originating tropes and arguments against the real issue of gender-based violence being focused on women with men as the primary perpetrators.
(Sources: Health Poverty Action, Cal Poly Humboldt, RAINN, Dept of Homeland Sec, etc)
Many of the “arguments” were tactics discrediting established, data-driven studies and organizations who track gender-based violence and domestic violence prevention.
As I delved further into the website, I found so many broken links for the “provided” sources as well as citations that were directed back to other parts of this very website I was on—such as memos and press releases.
I had an instinct that I had to indulge. A gut feeling.. So I hunted for the staff/board of directors…
Oh my!! Was I surprised by what I discovered!
I noticed a name that had already crossed my desk a few times connected to Project 2025 and its backing groups… That was one Edward E Bartlett. He is the founder of this particular coalition. If you’re not familiar with Edward E. Bartlett, he is a contributor of the Federalist Society, the president of SAVE, and he’s also one of the driving forces behind keeping trans people out of Title IX protections.
A source like the Coalition to End Domestic Violence sounds like a legitimate one with a good goal on the surface, but one must not be lazy. Laziness and complacence is what these right wing, anti-science and anti-data groups bank on. Any group/organization spearheaded by someone from the Federalist Society— and by extension Project 2025 and so aligned with the ideals of P25—is a source that should be double and triple checked for bias and accuracy. I always recommend All Sides Media Checking Tool
Critical thinking and diligent research is imperative and will become even more so— as fascism is trying to take further control.. Worldwide.
~~Ginge
P.S. Feel free to engage, comment, share, repost, even disagree… Just bring your source to table!