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Working with Men to Prevent Violence against Women

In this paper:

  • Introduction
  • Characteristics of Successful Male Violence Prevention Efforts
  • Prevention Models
  • Challenges

Introduction:
Currently, prevention efforts are focused mostly on intervening after a battering episode, and then only with women.  Why should women carry the burden of preventing domestic violence? 

We must include boys and men in our education efforts for two key reasons.  First, men are predominantly the perpetrators of domestic violence, committing 90% of the violent crimes against women.  Second, constructions of masculinity promote violence as acceptable for the male gender. 

In primary prevention efforts, we seek to challenge widely accepted cultural values of gender roles.  If this is the case, we must challenge the notion that maleness is associated with aggression, hostility and violence.  In order to challenge notions of maleness, we cannot exclude men from violence prevention efforts. 

Moreover, prevention efforts should be geared toward acknowledging men not just as potential perpetrators, but also as bystanders.  To this end, we can incorporate men in violence prevention efforts by encouraging men to be partners in solving the problem rather than by criticizing or blaming men. 

 

Characteristics of Effective Male Violence Prevention Efforts:
A report by the National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women recommends several strategies and criteria necessary for engaging men in Violence Against Women prevention efforts:

  • Men must share responsibility for preventing men’s violence against women.
  • Men need to be approached as partners in solving the problem rather than as perpetrators.
  • Workshops and other activities for men are more effective when conducted by peers in small, all-male groups because of the immense influence that men have on each other and because of the safety all-male groups can provide.
  • Discussions should be interactive and encourage honest sharing of feelings, ideas, and beliefs.
  • Opportunities should be created to discuss and critique prevailing understandings of masculinity and men’s discomfort with them, as well as men’s misperceptions of other men’s attitudes and behavior. 
  • Positive anti-violence values and healthy aspects of men’s experience should be strengthened, including teaching men to intervene in other men’s behavior. 
  • Work with men must be in collaboration with and accountable to women working as advocates, educators, and prevention specialists.
  • Studies demonstrate that facilitated male groups are more effective than mixed gender groups (Brecklin, 2001). 
  • Tailor prevention efforts to age of male.
  • Work with communities, and male dominated professions as partners, mobilizing local efforts to combat VAW.

 

Prevention Models:

  • Mass media campaigns should strive to re define ideals of masculinity.   Specifically, aimed at altering idea that males are aggressive, hostile and violent.  Campaigns might represent masculinity and violence as contradictory paradigms.  A campaign, Violence Against Women, It’s Against The Rules, directed by NSW uses high profile male sports figures to deliver messages that violence against women is unacceptable (Flood, 2002).
  • Community Education campaigns directed toward male dominated professions that challenge traditional notions of masculinity.  Specifically, education seeks to alter the idea that males are aggressive, hostile and violent while also educating members of professions about the effects of male violence on the individual, community and nation.
  • Role models and mentors can play a role in challenging ideas of masculinity
  • Peer education to initiate community ambassador programs where males educate members of their community in a culturally competent manner.
  • The Family Violence Prevention Fund focuses on redefining ideas of masculinity and targets young boys, using positive older male role models.
  • The University of Michigan facilitates workshops geared toward men who want to engage in a discussion of dating and domestic violence.  The goal of this program is to increase awareness and knowledge of issues related to sexual violence

Potential Challenges to Male Involvement:

  • Men who challenge cultural definitions of masculinity may be met with suspicion, which can potentially decrease interest in male activist groups.
  • Many men (and women) may resist changing their ideas, behaviors, and beliefs.  This can be exaggerated if proposed changes are being imposed from outside their own communities.
  • Men who do this work are also frequently and unfairly given more credit for their efforts than women who do similar work (Flood, 2001).
  • At this juncture, because working with men is a new approach to VAW prevention, there is little empirical evidence that work with men will be effective.

 

 

 

Resources:

Berkowitz, A., Working with Men to Prevent Violence Against Women:  An Overview (Part One).  National Online Resources Center on Violence against Women.  October 2004, 1-9.

Brecklin, L.R. & Forde, D.R. (2001). A meta-analysis of rape education programs.  Violence and Victims,16, 303-321

Flood, Michael.  Engaging Men:  Strategies and Dilemmas in Violence Prevention Education Among Men.  Violence Against Women 2002, Issue 13.

Additional Resources:
Miedzian M. Boys Will Be Boys: Breaking the Link Between Masculinity and Violence. New York: Doubleday; 1991.
Katz J. Reconstructing masculinity in the locker room: The Mentors in Violence Prevention Project. Harvard Educational Review. 1995;65:163-174.
Schwartz M, DeKeseredy W. Sexual Assault on the College Campus: The Role of Male Peer Support. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage; 1997.
Hong, L.  Toward a Transformed Approach to Prevention: Breaking the Link Between Masculinity and Violence.  Journal of American College Health; May2000, Vol. 48 Issue 6, p269, 11p
Payne, J.G.  P.r.i.d.e.: The development of a peer education prevention program addressing rape and sexual assault among high school students.  The Sciences and Engineering 2008 Vol 69(2-B) 1379
Paterson, M.  Broken By You: Men’s Role in Stopping Woman.  The United Church Publishing House, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada: 1995. RE.E85b