ENGAGING MEN AND BOYS IN PRIMARY LUKE ABLETT
ENGAGING MEN AND BOYS IN PRIMARY LUKE ABLETT PREVENTION
INTRODUCTION ▸ What is violence against women and why is it such a problem? ▸ What causes it? ▸ Myth busting ▸ How do we prevent it? ▸ Engaging men and boys in primary prevention
WHAT IS MEN’S VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN? Violence against Women stems from a desire to have power and control in a relationship, and often results in fear. It can appear in a number of ways, including: ▸ Physical violence (or threats) ▸ Religious, spiritual or cultural ▸ Sexual violence (or threats) ▸ Verbal ▸ Emotional violence ▸ Financial ▸ Stalking ▸ Pet abuse
RATES AND IMPACTS OF VIOLENCE Family and domestic violence: ▸ Approx. one women killed every week ▸ Major health burden for women aged 15 -44 ▸ Enormous social, political and economic costs for individuals, families and communities ▸ Is a major contributor to homelessness for women ▸ Is a major cost to businesses and the economy $21. 6 billion per year ▸ Results in a police call out every two minutes ▸ Results in lower education and employment outcomes for women ▸ Results in social isolation and poverty
RATES AND IMPACTS OF VIOLENCE
RATES AND IMPACTS OF VIOLENCE In summary ▸ Violence against women is relatively common ▸ Has significant impacts on the health, wellbeing and agency of women ▸ Impacts the economic, social and political nature of society ▸ Is most overwhelmingly perpetrated by men, most commonly a partner or former partner
WHAT DRIVES MEN’S VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN?
WHAT DRIVES MEN’S VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN?
WHAT DRIVES VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN? Gendered drivers: ▸ Condoning violence against women ▸ Men’s control of decision making and limiting women’s independence ▸ Rigid gender roles ▸ Male peer relationships that emphasis aggression and disrespect Reinforcing factors ▸ Condoning of violence more broadly ▸ Experience of, and exposure to, violence ▸ Weakening pro-social behaviour, including alcohol use ▸ Socioeconomic inequality and discrimination ▸ Backlash factors
WHAT IS GENDER? Sex The way we define people based on their reproductive capability – also traditionally considered to me masculine or feminine This is how we’re born Gender The expectations we have of a person based their sex – traditionally considered to be masculine or feminine This is how we’re raised and this can change
GENDER EQUALITY IN AUSTRALIA ▸ In 2016 Australia was ranked 46 out of 144 countries (down from 15 in 2006) for gender equality ▸ 32% of elected MPs are women ▸ 1 in 5 think men should take control in relationships and be head of household ▸ More than a quarter of Australians think men make better political leaders ▸ The pay gap between women’s and men’s full-time weekly earnings is 17. 3 percent ▸ Women spend almost twice as much time on unpaid work as men ▸ More than one-third of Victorians hold low levels of support for equal relationships between women and men ▸ In 2016, only 13 per cent of Victorian women aged 15 years or over participated in a sports club or association, compared to 28 percent for Victorian men in the same age group
HOW DO WE WE PREVENT MEN’S VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN?
PREVENTION APPROACHES Three levels of prevention: 1. Tertiary: Courts, ongoing counseling, prison, AVOs 2. Secondary: Police response, emergency response, intervention in violent episode 3. Primary: Preventing violence before it occurs – challenging the attitudes and behaviours that contribute to or cause violence
PRIMARY PREVENTION ▸ Challenge the attitudes and behaviours that contribute to, support, or condone violence ▸ Condoning violence against women ▸ Men’s control of decision making and limiting women’s independence ▸ Rigid gender roles ▸ Male peer relationships that emphasis aggression and disrespect ▸ Create more gender equitable environments where we work, live, play, and learn
ENGAGING MEN AND BOYS IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION
VIDEO
A FOCUS ON MASCULINITY Estimated that around 80% of violent crime, and 90% of sexual assault is perpetrated by men. Why? Traditional ideas of masculinity ▸ Strong ▸ Brave ▸ Decision maker ▸ Heterosexual and sexually active ▸ Bread winner ▸ Leader We know that some men will use violence: ▸ When they feel they can’t live up to these expectations ▸ When they feel like they’ve been ‘feminised’ ▸ When they feel like they’re not in control
VIDEO
TWO QUESTIONS How do we learn what it means to ‘be a man’? and Where do we learn it?
LANGUAGE ▸ How do we put men centrally in the picture (without pissing them off)? ▸ ‘Fixed it’ by Jane Gilmore - @janetribune
SO, WHAT DO WE DO? ▸ It’s not a simple as education – education is a start, but it’s not the end ▸ It’s a process that lasts a life time ▸ Multiple, reinforcing messages and accountability ▸ Support and encourage men and young boys to be active in their gender construction ▸ Create safe and inclusive environments for women and men ▸ Surround young boys and girls with strong male and female leadership
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