From childhood physical and sexual abuse by male relatives and family friends, to sexual assault by male friends and strangers, to partner abuse by boyfriends and husbands, violence at the hands of men can be traced throughout and between participants’ lives.
An overwhelming majority experienced physical and/or sexual violence prior to incarceration (81%). More often than not, the abuse they endured as children was at the hands of men – fathers, mother’s boyfriends, uncles, brothers, family friends. Following childhood, most participants became involved in abusive romantic relationships (81%). Even regarding the crimes for which they are incarcerated, many testimonies depict individuals trapped in situations that turn violent due to escalation by men.
“Every relationship I ever had was physically abusive as well as verbally. When you’re told that you’re not good enough or that you are ugly and no one else would want you, you start believing what is being told to you day after day. And when you’re being beaten you think it’s your fault and that they must love you enough to want to put their hands on you.”
Marsha Scaggs