Last Call

I'm happy to say we're nearing the end of the compiling phase of the project. We are continuing to seek submissions, but we are rounding out the collection. I know that this project will lead to more stories coming out, more guys coming forward. We're giving guys permission to speak out about being abused in their relationships.

This project has been an adventure for me, and a chance to meet a lot of new people. My role as editor has been to seek out stories from all over the world, and we have put together quite a stunning and provocative document on men who have been abused by women. When I began, I had no idea how common these situations are. I now understand more than I ever did about the issue, and I know our readers will too. It's eye-opening and mind-blowing. No one who reads this book will be able to look at the issue in the same way again.

The project has been received with open arms. Everyone I have spoken to has been very positive and supportive. I initially feared that this hot-button issue would polarize and inflame a lot of people. We don't believe that anyone should be abused. We aren't trying to diminish the efforts of the Women's Movement, which has worked hard to bring awareness to violence against women. We have our own battle to fight, and it's going to be an uphill battle, but it has to be fought diligently and sensibly.

Anti-abuse movements gain traction when the victims themselves tell their stories. This is a politically charged issue. But when the victim speaks out, everyone can agree. It's a grand injustice. Men are abused in many ways, and the legal system doesn't do enough to protect them. The stories are brutal and honest. Most men aren't given permission to be honest about what has happened to them. They are ridiculed for it. If the woman is retaliating against a man that has abused her, then I believe she is justified. If the man has been wrongfully abused by a woman, then he needs to speak up about it.

The book is designed to bring new awareness to the issue. We want the stories. The most powerful action men can take is to go public with their story, in a safe and effective format. We publish our stories anonymously, and everyone's information is kept confidential.