This paper examines the role of men in influencing outcomes of men's violence against women. It offers benefits and drawbacks of involving men in such programs.
There has been a trend towards active engagement and involvement of men in programs to address other men's violence against women. The author examines the background of these programs and offers evidence about the processes of working with men in this setting.
The author outlines several ways in which men have been or are involved in anti-violence initatives:
- As behaviour-change facilitators
- In anti-violence campaigns such as White Ribbon
- As role models in the community
- As workshop facilitators
- As facilitators of boys' programs
- As policy makers and program administrators
- As interventionist bystanders
- As egalitarian and non-violent men in families
Implications For Services
By examining approaches taken towards countering domestic violence, the author provides a balanced response that acknowledges the limitations of the commonly used approaches. It is recognised that there are limits and drawbacks that will provide barriewrs to engaging men in violence programs and offers some recommendations for overcoming these barriers.
The author ultimately recognises that there have been occurrences where programs set up to engage men and women in anti-violence programs have in fact created a wider rift between the genders, and as such services must be careful in their approaches. The practice of close working relationships between men and women in these programs is emphasised.
Resources Available
- Engaging Men in Men’s Violence Prevention: Exploring the Tensions, Dilemmas and Possibilities
Research report by Dr Bob Pease of the School of Health and Social Development at Deakin University published August 2008.
Related Links
Contact Information
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Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse University of New South Wales Sydney, New South Wales 2052 AustraliaTelephone: 1800 75 33 82 Fax: +61 2 9385 2993 |