What Every Man Can Do to Help End Violence Against Women
women "in their place" even if that isn't the intention.
One of the most difficult things for men is to learn to challenge other men. To challenge sexist language. To challenge men who talk lightly of violence against women. And to challenge men who engage in violence.
6. Learn to identify and oppose sexual harassment and violence in your workplace, school and family.
Sexual harassment refers to unwanted sexual advances or sexually-oriented remarks or behavior that are unwelcome by another person. Flirting and joking are fine if they are consensual and wanted. But sexual harassment poisons the environment.
Harassment is ultimately about inequalities of power. The same action done by a woman might not bother a man because, in general, our society has not given women power over men.
Men can join women in opposing sexual harassment by supporting efforts in our workplaces and schools to create a healthy and productive environment.
7. Support local women's programs.
Around the world, dedicated women have created support services for women who are survivors of men's violence: shelters for battered women, rape crisis centers, counseling services, and legal aid clinics. Women escaping violent situations depend on these services.
These and other women's organizations deserve men's support and our financial backing. That's why we encourage local White Ribbon campaigns to raise money for local women's programmes.
8. Examine how your own behavior might contribute to the problem.
If you've ever been physically violent against a woman, if you've committed sexual assault, if you've hit, pushed, threatened, kicked your spouse or girlfriend, then you have been part of the problem.
If this happened long ago admit what you did was wrong and make amends if possible. But if your violent behavior has any chance of continuing, then you urgently need to get help getting to the root of your problem. Don't wait until it happens again. Please act today.
Many men will never be physically or sexually violent. But let's examine ways we might try to control women. Do we dominate conversations? Do we put them down? Do we limit their activities?
Whether or not you've ever been violent, all men must take responsibility for ending all forms of violence against women.
9. Work towards long-term solutions.
Ending violence against women won't happen over-night. Real solutions are truly long-term solutions. This is because men's violence against women is rooted in inequalities between men and women, and in the way men learn to be men.
Legal changes to combat men's violence against
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