I was talking randomly about who knows what and we got to the topic of homeless shelters and things like that, and I said the 'ol "most homeless shelters don't allow boys over 13 or 14. then only 1% of beds in homeless shelters are given to men." Then I told her a about Earl Silvers, how he was ridiculed and bankrupted out of owning the first Canadian homeless shelter for men- she was eager to hear that story. and then she said "you'd think that people would think that anyone can be a victim- and that anyone should have the same support if they're being abused," and I said "you would think. But they don't see men that way." long story short, both of my parents were victims of their past spouses in different ways, so my mom is sympathetic to men being victims. Awhile ago I told her about underage boys being rated and then charged with child support and she said it made her angry. anyway, I'm just grateful another woman in my life is seeing these things for what they are and being open to hearing the reality of what hardships men face. (small note, she's a high school teacher, I'm hoping this knowledge helps her treat the boys in her classroom with more grace than their other teachers.)

EDIT: I also told her about the DV stats, that women commit more unilateral violence, same sex female marriages have the most reiprocated violence, etc. and she didn't believe me. I looked up the articles in the car and her flabbers were gasted.