RE: Why on earth do women stay in abusive relationships? Better question would be; why do women think it's all about them, all the time? There are plenty of men and children in abusive relationships, yet women are generally so freaking selfish and self absorbed all they talk about, concern themselves with, and focus on, is themselves - 24 hours a day. Take a day off, we deserve it. If feminists were really serious about ending domestic violence, knew how to be team players, and were concerned with all people, they would rally against ALL violence - men, women, and children; yet they only focus on their own gender. The selfishness, hypocrisy, and absurdity of this position cannot be overstated. Women defend their obsessive focus with the following self centered explanation; 'we have gone so long without any support, we deserve it'(as if). Man up, we're trying to have a civilization here.

When you get aboard an airplane, the first safety instructions they present to you before the plane takes off is that when the plane depressurizes and the air masks fall from the ceiling, to first place a mask over one's own face before helping others. In other words, one must first help themselves before they can be useful to others. The African Americans fought for racial justice by fighting their own cause first. There's no reason to believe women have no interest in helping abused men, children or even animals, but you can't slight them for wanting to help themselves as well.

I don't think it's really a fair question. I injured my back pretty badly last year by slipping on our patio stairs and falling down pretty hard. When I went to the ER, the doctor made my wife leave the room and she asked me about domestic violence. I was really confused by the question and just said "no" and then joked about it with my wife when she came back. The doctor really wasn't amused.

Clearly, there is some awareness of female on male violence.

I think the problem lies with us men, who create a stigma around such an issue. I imagine if a man was in an abusive relationship, women would be much more supportive than his male cohorts.

techresmgt, why are you able to magically divine what women generally concern themselves with? If feminists (who, by the way, also include men in their numbers) weren't interested in ending violence they wouldn't be working so hard on a variety fronts to assure across-the-board access to education, counseling, and support for all those affected by domestic violence. The stats are something like (just an estimate) 90-95% man-on-woman violence, 5-10% all other domestic violence. Where would you put the majority of your efforts?

Oh, by the way, 50% or so of the children of violent relationships are boys, after all, do you think we are locking them out of the shelters at night? Get real.

Right on. The entire "self-help" genre focuses on women because they have a greater need to have their side of the story justified. Even crime and legal show is about men as rapists or abusers that it is often difficult for women to see men otherwise. Women have cultured the American Six Year Marriage because they've found an opportunity to raise THEIR children by hooking the father for a "child support" check (which includes alimony in disguise).

To answer your question, women stay in "abusive" (real or not) relationships because they don't have a better financially superior offer. What ? Move into a smaller place with no dining room for guests? I remember my mother watching Oprah in the afternoon and hearing the all-female audience cheer a dumpy, overweight woman to dump her demon husband because she deserves better. Of course, she leaves the show and continues as she did before the show, though feeling a little better that her injustice was ratified by a few hundred cheering strangers.