False Allegations.
False Allegations are often at the core of legal abuse.
While both men and woman can threaten, attempt, and carry out legal and administrative abuse, the gender-based domestic violence narrative that dominates public opinion, legislation, criminal policy, and court decisions makes it particularly difficult for men to defend against women’s weaponized accusations.
While it is important to protect vulnerable adults and children from harm, protection orders are often issued just because they are requested. Judges are motivated to err on the side of caution, but there is little to no consideration that unjust protection orders create their own set of harms.
A protection order, even if unjustified, can cause major fallout:
- Forced removal from the home: sometimes with little or no notice
- Loss of access to personal belongings: leaving essential possessions out of reach for weeks or months
- Separation from the children: temporarily or for an extended period
- Damage to reputation: creating assumptions of guilt among friends, family and community
- Barriers to employment: especially in jobs requiring background checks, licenses, or firearm access
- Difficulty renting housing: background checks can be flagged by restraining orders
- Travel restrictions: including problems crossing international borders or obtaining visas
- Risk of repeated arrests: even for accidental or unavoidable contact
- Emotional trauma: including anxiety, depression and deep mistrust in the justice system
–Ann Silvers ABUSE OF MEN BY WOMEN, It Happens, It Hurts, Let’s Deal With It 2cd Edition
