After years of neglect, the problem of abused, missing, and murdered Native Americans is coming to the attention of the media and lawmakers. However, the way the subject is treated serves as a troubling case study about the intersection of gender politics and science.

Let’s do a quick perusal of the science. First, nearly identical percentages of male and female Native Americans have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetimes: 81.6% of males and 84.3% of females, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.