Fighting abuse with job creation

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says unemployed men "tend to become abusive"

Published February 23, 2010 1:01AM (EST)

On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid offered an unexpected argument for passing a $15 billion job stimulus: Violence against women. "I met with some people while I was home dealing with domestic abuse. It has gotten out of hand," he said. "Why? Men don't have jobs. Women don't have jobs either, but women aren’t abusive, most of the time." He continued, "Men, when they're out of work, tend to become abusive." The Hill labels his statement "controversial," presumably because his poorly worded argument can be easily misinterpreted -- so, for the record, here is what the research tells us: There is a positive relationship between male unemployment and domestic violence against women, according to a 2004 report funded by the Department of Justice. Check out the video below.


By Tracy Clark-Flory

MORE FROM Tracy Clark-Flory


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Broadsheet Violence Against Women