In the wake of the Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson domestic violence scandals, the NFL is considering the implementation of a "zero tolerance" policy. One instance of domestic violence and you are finished, your career is over, and you're pumping gas back in your hometown. It is good that we are having this discussion. It is good that the nation is focused on a very painful issue. But the NFL and the sycophant sports writers that cover it are not the best equipped to lead that discussion.
Ray Rice was caught on video clocking his then fiancé in an elevator. They were having an argument, apparently they were both drunk, and he slammed her head into the elevator wall. She went unconscious. He then dragged her out of the elevator like a sack of potatoes. The NFL originally only suspended Rice for two games. Then, after a loud public outcry, the NFL permanently banned him from the sport. They triumphantly claimed that they had "sent a message."
Rice, sitting next to his now wife, told the press that he was cooperating with the investigation and attempted to answer questions about that night. He is attempting, through the player's union, to get reinstated, but who knows how successful he'll be. In the meantime, he isn't getting paid.
Journalists and former players across the nation celebrated Rice's dismissal with comments like "hit him where it hurts - in his wallet," and "get these guys off the field, take it away," "that's the only thing these guys respect."
Adrian Peterson's case is more attenuated. He spanked his son with a switch, leaving marks that didn't show up until days later. He has been under investigation for child abuse for several months and, when asked why he used a switch, he said, simply, that's what his dad used on him and if he hadn't, Peterson would've grown into a gangbanger.
Therein lies the problem. Abuse is a cycle. It is not a disciplinary problem with the abuser so much as it is a failure to be aware of the behavior coupled with a strong desire to perpetuate the cycle. I am not in any way excusing the abuser. There is no excuse for the conduct, period. I am, however, pointing out that it is a more complicated problem to solve than, for example, steroid use, and the NFL simply isn't qualified.
For example, consider the law of unintended consequences, which the NFL obviously did not. Firing a man for beating his wife will do nothing to stop that man from abusing his wife. "Zero tolerance" will do nothing more than encourage the victims of abuse to be silent. Why was Rice's wife sitting next to him at the press conference? Because she's about to go from wife of a multimillionaire to wife of a gas-pumper. The "message" the NFL just sent was heard loud and clear - by the wives of every NFL player. Are you suffering in silence? Were you thinking about raising the issue of your husband's abuse? Were you going to leave him? Well don't, because you will lose your sole source of financial support - permanently.
Anyone who has ever worked with the victims of abuse, especially women, know that this is a significant concern that keeps her in the relationship much longer than she would otherwise. When she does finally leave, she already has to fight for financial support for herself and her children in addition to living in fear that the abuser will hunt her down. If the NFL's zero tolerance policy were applied by every company in America, the abused spouse and her children would be left not only fighting the abuse, but also fighting ever worse poverty. And it's not like the abuser suddenly ends the abuse either.
"Zero tolerance" is nothing more than an excuse to avoid exercising good judgment. The NFL, who makes billions off of these players, wants to wash their hands of the embarrassing ones, you know, so not to damage the pristine image they want to present to the public. Most companies in America don't work that way. Most companies would require the employee to attend some form of employer assisted counseling, and then follow up to make sure the counseling was effective. Most companies actually consider the family, not just the employee, when determining what action to take. Most companies and human resource personnel know that the problem of domestic violence is more complicated than steroid use, and that there are many more considerations that go into exercising good judgment and providing substantive help to the victims.
We can only hope that the NFL's zero tolerance policy will apply to the owners as well, but something tells me I shouldn't hold by breath.
No comments:
Post a Comment