CCChat-Magazine_Issue-17

I also learned that the pseudoscientific
theory called 'parental alienation
syndrome' has unfortunately been
accepted as truth in family court.
I used to think that ending an abusive
relationship would end the abuse. It does
not – especially if the abusive person is
the father of the child. The family court is
not only complicit in helping my abusive
ex inflict post-separation abuse but also
in traumatizing me more.
There is a growing awareness in the UK
and Australia about the misogyny of
parental alienation and how abused
mothers and children are badly treated in
family court, but unfortunately there is
little such knowledge in Hong Kong –
despite the fact the justice system is
modelled after the UK.
Some years ago, the South China Morning
Post, the leading English-language
newspaper here, even published a story
about “parental alienation”, without
trying to find out the dark history of the
theory and the sexist application in child
custody cases.
It is frustrating. I don’t know which one
will come first: my child is turning 18 in
less than a decade, and thus can free
herself (and myself) from his control and
abuse, or the family court will realise its
failure to protect abuse victims.
I am not so optimistic with the latter, to
be honest.
* name has been changed.
Making The Invisible Visible