Below is the text of an email written by a woman (she gave us permission to reprint here but we have removed her name) who read our article on Wisconsin Representative Pridemore’s suggestion that women who are beaten by their husbands should just deal with it and remember the good things about why they married their husbands in the first place.

Pridemore’s comments, combined with his attacks on single mothers as the root of all evil, gave us pause as to whether Representative Pridemore really understood that women are individual human beings with basic human rights, or if he takes that whole Adam’s rib thing literally.

Unfortunately, the response from Pridemore’s staffer to our friend’s email–he calls it the “dunbest (sic) email ever,” suggests that, indeed, some training on gender sensitivity and equity might be in order for Mr. Pridemore’s entire office.

Below is her original email:

From:
Sent: Fri 3/23/2012 11:40 AM
To: Rep.Pridemore
Subject: In response to your comment about divorce in case of abuse

Mr. Pridemore –

I would like to make a deal with you.  I propose we live together (I’ll even relocate to Wisconsin!) for a year in an abusive relationship.  I’ll beat the shit out of you on a regular basis, verbally assault you, make you live in extreme fear, break down any shred of self-worth you might have, all that good stuff.  After 12 months, we can both reevaluate our positions on the issue.

Granted, you don’t know me well enough to “love me,” thus giving you happy thoughts to call on when I’m beating you violently, but let’s see what we can work out.  What do you say?  :)

Regards,

XXXXXXXX

Arlington, Virginia

And the staffer’s response:

On Fri, Mar 23, 2012 at 12:42 PM, Rep.Pridemore <[email protected]> wrote:

Congrats, this IS the dunbest e-mail yet!

Bill Savage

Office of Don Pridemore