In this contribution, on the strength of the experience acquired as a promoting partner of the Centro Ascolto Uomini Maltrattanti (Firenze), the Author describes some typical characteristics of abusive parents, identifying the parenthood aspect as a crucial point to compare the identity of abusers in intimate relationships. In the light of what was observed, the Author goes on to identify a few guidelines relating to both therapeutic and preventive/education interventions, showing the opportunity to use the parenthood issue as a lever for change through a violence-based approach. Finally, the Author highlights the need for a network action in which all levels of the system - cultural, political, educational and clinical - shall be synergically involved in order to promote interventions aiming at countering the use of violence and favouring the transformation of "masculine" in a process for the learning of the alternatives to violence.
Keywords: Abuse, family, parenthood, change, masculine, father-son relationship