When people talk about domestic violence (DV), they usually focus on things women- statisitcs, what we can do, prevention, etc. However, I want to make it known that there are things men can do to help end violence against women. Feel free to pass this info on to the men in your life (from acalltomen.org):
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Acknowledge and understand how sexism, male dominance and male privilege lay the foundation for all forms of violence against women.
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Examine and challenge your individual sexism and the role men play in supporting other men who are abusive.
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Recognize and stop colluding with other men by getting out of your socially defined roles and take a stance to end violence against women.
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Remember that your silence is affirming. When you choose not to speak out against men’s violence, you are supporting it.
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Educate and re-educate your sons and other young men about your repsonsiblity in ending men’s violence against women.
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Break out of the “man box”. Challenge traditional images of manhood that stops men from actively taking a stand to end violence against women.
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Accept and own your responsibility that violence against women won’t end until men become a part of the solution to end it. Men have to take an active role in creating a cultural and social shift that no longer tolerates violence against women.
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Stop supporting the notion that men’s violence against women is due to mental illness, lack of anger management skills, chemical dependency, stress, etc. Violence against women is rooted in the historic oppression of women and the outgrowth of the socialization of men.
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Take responsibility for creating appropriate and effective ways to develop systems to educate and hold men accountable.
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Create systems of accountability to women in your community. Violence and discrimination against women will only end when make take direction from those who understand it most, women.
For more info about how men can help the fight against DV, check out acalltomen.org.
Bravo, Jamie! Thanks for writing about domestic violence today. This is good stuff ~ I’m going to link to you in my own post.
Love the necklace BTW in your photo.
[...] did a little surfing around this morning. I first found a blog post by Jamie Fleming, an aspiring freelance writer in Georgia: “How men can help end violence [...]
Thanks, Anne! I’m glad you liked it. = )