Last updated on March 12, 2021
The phrase “Rule of Thumb” didn’t originate with domestic abuse. Instead, it was a way for craftspeople to make measurements using their thumbs. However, folk etymology cites a non-existent law that husbands were allowed to beat wives using a rod or implement no wider than their thumb.
An 1824 court ruling in Mississippi even stated that a man was entitled to enforce “domestic discipline” by striking his wife with a whip or stick no wider than the judge’s thumb. Other cases found men “not guilty” for the same reason. Although most American states had outlawed domestic abuse by the late 19th century, many people still believed a man was legally permitted to beat his wife with a stick no wider than his thumb.
The phrase “Rule of Thumb” was officially associated with domestic abuse in the 1970s, when a paper by Del Martin was erroneous interpreted to indicate a literal Rule of Thumb in British Common Law.
Although its origin isn’t based in domestic abuse, when someone utters “Rule of Thumb”, it’s a good opportunity to talk about it. We can familiarize ourselves with the signs of domestic abuse. Share the secret victim hand signal with our friends regardless of their gender. Keep in mind it may be safer to develop a unique signal, since some abusers already know the widely-recognized gesture.
Let’s watch our words and watch out for each other.
What other phrases do we need to phase out to provide a safe space? Let me know in the comments below.