THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE ABUSER

This essay by Grant Wyeth critiques how family courts have been influenced by discredited concepts like “parental alienation,” which often protect abusive men and jeopardize children’s safety. The United Nations has called for an inquiry into how parental alienation is used in custody cases, highlighting its detrimental effects on children and mothers. Wyeth explains how the concept, introduced by Richard Gardner, reverses victimhood by accusing mothers of brainwashing children against their fathers, often resulting in mothers losing custody. The essay argues that family courts have been captured by these harmful ideas, reflecting broader societal issues of male authority and control