The War On Parental Alienation Continues

The feminist propaganda machine has recruited yet more flying monkey's!

Hannah Summers wrote on Monday 22nd April 2024, in her article “Greater Family Court Transparency Puts Expert Witnesses in the Spotlight”:

... the way in which allegations of parental alienation are frequently being raised in family courts has the appearance of a litigation tactic

Here's a quick summary of her narrative:

Background: Greater transparency in the Family Court has drawn attention to the quality of expert witnesses. Journalists now have the ability to approach parties for comment, shedding light on important issues.

The Issue: The article discusses the highly divisive issue of “parental alienation.” This term refers to a scenario where a child rejects one parent due to manipulation or influence by the other. Some parents, particularly mothers, have lost custody of their children based on evidence from court-appointed experts who claim they have “alienated” the child from the other parent.

Concerns Raised:

• Litigation Tactic: Allegations of parental alienation are frequently raised in family courts and appear to be used as a litigation tactic. Lawyers and psychologists are increasingly concerned about this trend.
• Counter-Allegation to Domestic Abuse: Lawyers report that claims of parental alienation are sometimes used as a counter-allegation to domestic abuse.
• Draft Guidelines: In August 2023, the Family Justice Council issued draft guidelines for handling allegations of alienating behaviour, but the response is still pending.

Case Example:

• The Bureau of Investigative Journalism reported on a case in Bristol where both sides were represented.
• The psychologist’s evidence was closely tested in cross-examination.
• The court rejected the proposition of parental alienation in this case.
• The mother claimed her abusive ex-partner used an unregulated psychologist’s report to bolster harassment.

Key Takeaway: Greater transparency in family court proceedings is crucial for ensuring the quality and reliability of expert witnesses, especially in cases involving parental alienation.

You can read the full article here.

This article is sadly yet more feminist propaganda, aimed at harming father's right's to contact with their children by asserting the idea that if a father is being denied access and applies to court for contact, he is using a "legal strategy" to abuse the mother. Whilst no doubt in some cases this is true but in all cases when alienation is alleged, the court has a duty to consider it without immediately dismissing it because of some "war" on parental alienation.

Here is my full critique:

Counter-Argument: The Reality and Research Behind Parental Alienation

Parental alienation is a complex and often misunderstood phenomenon. Contrary to the article’s suggestion that it is merely a legal strategy used by abusive fathers, substantial research indicates that parental alienation is a genuine issue that can arise in high-conflict separations, affecting both mothers and fathers.

Scientific Research and Evidence: Professor Ben Hine’s work at the University of West London has delved into post-separation abuse, specifically highlighting parental alienation as a form of violence where one parent undermines the child’s relationship with the other parent1. Similarly, Dr. Jennifer Harman of Colorado State University has conducted extensive research on parental alienation, demonstrating its impact on families and advocating for its recognition in legal and mental health contexts23.

Parental Alienation Across Genders: The research by these experts shows that parental alienation is not gender-specific. Both mothers and fathers can be perpetrators or victims of this behaviour, which is often linked to personality disorders, particularly Cluster B disorders12. This contradicts the notion that only fathers use parental alienation as a tactic and highlights the need for a balanced understanding of the issue.

Feminist Perspective: From a feminist viewpoint, acknowledging parental alienation does not negate the experiences of women; rather, it recognises the diverse ways in which power dynamics and abuse manifest in post-separation scenarios. In fact many mothers who have tried to access support from domestic abuse support services were refused help when they said they were experiencing alienation. It is essential to consider all forms of family violence, including parental alienation, to protect the well-being of children and parents alike.

Lack of Balance in the Article: The article in question fails to provide a balanced view by omitting the significant body of research supporting the existence and harm of parental alienation. It overlooks the experiences of numerous cases where parental alienation was identified, and the detrimental effects on children were acknowledged by courts and mental health professionals.

My final thoughts on this are that anyone who fails to take a balanced look at evidence and research, is fuelled by a personal agenda and their perspective should naturally be questioned. A balanced discussion on the topic must include the perspectives and findings of researchers like Professor Ben Hine and Dr. Jennifer Harman, ensuring that the full scope of family conflict is understood and addressed. This research is readily available and ignorance is no excuse.