Although feminist analyses have highlighted concerns about male abuse of children, the child protection decisionmaking process in Great Britain is largely based on male theorizing, research, and management. This means that men are able to minimize their involvement in child abuse and divert attention toward women and involve female social workers in the process. Men are able to minimize their violent behavior because social worker views and attitudes are affected by differing definitions of fathering and mothering. Psychological theory also promotes differing definitions of fathering and mothering in two ways: (1) the very elusiveness of fathering means that men are rarely the subject of research; and (2) any focus on parenting is inevitably translated into mothering in research reports. Social workers unwittingly collude with the effective minimization of fathers' roles and behavior by concentrating on women who provide a "softer target." The low status of mothers also means that women's complaints about violence are not accorded the same seriousness as men's referrals in child abuse investigations. Secondary processes that bolster minimization of male involvement in child abuse are described, including mitigation, expressions of remorse, and intimidation. The important role of social workers in protecting children from abuse is discussed. 76 references