10 Things Men Can Do to Prevent Gender Violence

THINGS MEN CAN DO 10 TO PREVENT GENDER VIOLENCE

Approach gender violence as a MEN'S issue c o m munity-based rape crisis centers and battere d 11involving men of all ages and socioeconomic, women's shelters. If you belong to a team or fraternity, racial an d ethnic backgro u nd s . View men not only as per- or another student group, organize a fundraiser. pe t ra t o r s or possible of f e nde r s, but as empowere d bystanders who can confront abusive peers. Recognize and speak out against homophobia and 77gay-bashing. Discrimination and violence against If a brother, friend, classmate, or teammate is lesbians and gays are wrong in and of themselves. This 22abusing his female partner -- or is disrespectful or abuse also has direct links to sexism (e.g. the sexual abusive to girls and women in general -- don't look the orientation of men who speak out against sexism is other way. If you feel comfortable doing so, try to talk often questioned, a conscious or unconscious strategy to him about it. Urge him to seek help. Or if you don't intended to silence them. This is a key reason few men know what to do, consult a friend, a parent, a professor, do speak out). or a counselor. DON'T REMAIN SILENT. Attend programs, take courses, watch films, and Have the courage to look inward. Question your 88read articles and books about mu l t ic u l t u ra l 33own attitudes. Don't be defensive when something masculinities, gender inequality, and the root causes of you do or say ends up hurting someone else. Try hard to gender violence. Educate yourself and others about how understand how your own attitudes and actions might la r ger social for ces affect the conflicts between indi v i dual inadvertently perpetuate sexism and violence, and work men and women. toward changing them. Don't fund sexism. Refuse to purchase any If you suspect that a woman close to you is being 99magazine, rent any video, subscribe to any Web 44abused or has been sexually assaulted, gently ask site, or buy any music that portrays girls or women in a if you can help. sexually degrading or abusive manner. Protest sexism in the media. If you are emot io na l l y , psychol o g ic a l l y , phys ic a l l y , 55or sexually abusive to women, or have been in the Mentor and teach young boys about how to be past, seek professional help NOW. 00men in ways that don't involve degrading or abusing girls and women. Volunteer to work with gender vio- Be an ally to women who are working to end all lence prevention programs, including anti-sexist men's 6forms of gender violence. Support the work of programs. Lead by example. campus-based women's centers. Attend "Take Back the Night" rallies and other public events. Raise money for

This poster was produced by MVP Strategies, a gender violence prevention, education and training organization. Email: [email protected]

Approach gender violence as a MEN'S issue money for community-based rape crisis centers and 11involving men of all ages and socioeconomic, battered women's shelters. If you belong to a team or racial and ethnic backgro u n d s . View men not only as fraternity, or another student group, organize a pe r p e t ra t o r s or possible offenders, but as empowered fundraiser. bystanders who can confront abusive peers. Recognize and speak out against homophobia If a brother, friend, classmate, or teammate is 77and gay-bashing. Discrimination and violence 22abusing his female partner -- or is disrespectful against lesbians and gays are wrong in and of them- or abusive to girls and women in general -- don't look selves. This abuse also has direct links to sexism (e.g. the other way. If you feel comfortable doing so, try the sexual orientation of men who speak out against to talk to him about it. Urge him to seek help. Or if sexism is often questioned, a conscious or uncon- you don't know what to do, consult a friend, a parent, scious strategy intended to silence them. This is a a professor, or a counselor. DON'T REMAIN SILENT. key reason few men do speak out).

Have the courage to look inward. Question your Attend programs, take courses, watch films, 33own attitudes. Don't be defensive when some- 8and read articles and books about multicultural thing you do or say ends up hurting someone else. Try masculinities, gender inequality, and the root causes hard to understand how your own attitudes and of gender violence. Educate yourself and others actions might inadvertently perpetuate sexism and about how la r ger social for ces affect the conflicts violence, and work toward changing them. be t w een individual men and women.

If you suspect that a woman close to you is Don't fund sexism. Refuse to purchase any 44being abused or has been sexually assaulted, 99magazine, rent any video, subscribe to any Web gently ask if you can help. site, or buy any music that portrays girls or women in a sexually degrading or abusive manner. Protest sex- If you are emotionally, psychologically, physi- ism in the media. 55cally, or sexually abusive to women, or have been in the past, seek professional help NOW. Mentor and teach young boys about how to be 00men in ways that don't involve degrading or Be an ally to women who are working to end all abusing girls and women. Volunteer to work with 66forms of gender violence. Support the work of gender violence prevention programs, including anti- campus-based women's centers. Attend "Take Back sexist men's programs. Lead by example. the Night" rallies and other public events. Raise

This poster was produced by MVP Strategies, a gender violence prevention, education and training organization. Email: [email protected]