Equal parenting means less family violence

IPV, female homicide, child abuse and co-parenting conflict are lower when parenting time presumption is 50/50

This is adapted from The 50/50 Solution: The Surprisingly Simple Choice that Makes Moms, Dads, and Kids Happier and Healthier (Sourcebooks)

PDF version: Equal parenting means less family violence

“Equal parenting is fine — unless there is abuse.”

That is what I hear nearly time I mention this advocacy work aimed at making equal parenting the norm.

Translation: Men are presumed abusive until proven innocent.

Facts: Equal parenting presumptions lowers conflict, disincentivizes false allegations and lowers rates of intimate partner violence and child abuse.

Intimate partner violence and 50/50 laws

It makes sense: In the presence of a threat that one parent will lose a relationship with their children, violence spikes. Take the fight for parenting time out of breakups and allegations of, and actual violence go down.

In other words, violence is not a zero-sum argument against a presumption of equal parenting time. In fact, all the 50/50 parenting activists I know thoughtfully include provisions…