Domestic Violence and

Healthy Manhood
Caroline & Brandon
Domestic Violence is...
A pattern of assault and coercive behaviors,
including physical, sexual, and psychological
attacks, that adults or adolescents use against
their intimate partners or family members in order
to maintain power and control in the relationship
(RICADV).
Teen
Power and
Control
Wheel
Why dont
victims leave?
Societal & Personal
Barriers

Children
Family values
Finances
Fear of harm
Hope for change
Immigration Status
Language
Lack of resources
Why do abusers
abuse?

1. Difficulty tolerating injury

2. Entitlement
3. Lack of Empathy
4. Lack of Accountability
5. Unaddressed trauma
Emotional Honesty
What is an emotion that you often keep
to yourself? Why do you withhold it or
why is it hard to express it?
 16-24 year old are
the highest risk age
group for domestic
violence.
Abused girls are 4-6
times more likely to
become pregnant.
The majority of
young people
experiencing
domestic abuse dont
tell anyone.
About of the
persons who commit
Family violence are
male.
 1. This issue only concerns
women

Common Myths 2. She must have done

something to deserve it
Surrounding 3. Its only drunks who are
Domestic violent to their partners

Violence: 4. We should be teaching

women how to avoid abusive
men
5. Domestic violence is equally
perpetrated by women as
men
 Sexualition in the Media
Young adults are surrounded by sexualized representations in music videos, in
advertising, on the internet, in magazines, and computer games.

Up to 81% (depending on genre) of music videos depict sexualised imagery

where women are predominantly decorative objects who pose and dance.

MESSAGE:

Young people seem to be internalising that masculinity is about being

hyper-masculine and aggressive, whereas femininity is about sexual
desirability.
Young men are increasingly learning to be consumers of the female body.
Meanwhile, young women are learning that their own worth is measured in
terms of their physical desirability to men.
 But this violence is
Preventable through...
Changing societys structure that devalue the
worth of women and transform them into a
commodity.
Transforming societal norms that dictate rigid
gender stereotypes (male entitlement and
women's sexual objectification).
Challenging beliefs and attitudes of those around
us which normalise, support and reinforce
violence and abuse.
Male Entitlement
Toxic Masculinity
Have you ever been told to
man up or act like a
man?

How did it make you feel?

What do you think these

phrases mean?
Example of Male Socialization
The man box can limit boys
and men from growing.
Feeling, and forming healthy,
respectful relationships.
When boys are taught not to
ask for help or show their
emotions, and instead are
told to figure things out or
man up, they may become
caught in a trap.
Lets think about it:

1. Do you speak up if boys around you whistle or make comments to girls who
walk by?
2. Do you feel it is okay for boys to show emotion?
3. If you see a guy verbally or physically hurt a girl, would you do anything about
it?
4. You are in class with someone whom you have asked out and who has
already said no.
5. Do your ever say you run or throw like a girl, man up, or dont be a sissy,
to other boys?
 Things Guys Can do to Prevent Gender Violence
1. Approach gender violence as a MENS issue as
well. View men as empowered bystanders who
can confront abusive peers. DONT REMAIN
SILENT.
2. Have the courage to look inward. Question your
own attitudes and how they might inadvertently
perpetuate sexism and violence. Dont be
defensive and work towards changing them.
3. Gently ask if you can help if you suspect
someone is being abused.
1. Be an ally to women. Support the
projects and campaigns.
2. Educate yourself and others on
multicultural masculinity, gender
inequality, and the roots of
domestic violence.
3. Lead by example around peers and
groups of friends.
 WHATS IN IT FOR MEN?
By educating and mobilizing men, they can play an important role in making
the world safer for women and girls as well as other boys in their lives.
Cost of intimate partner rape, physical assault and stalking exceed $5.8 billion
each year for direct medical and mental care services.
Men can be empowered and equipped as to stand up and prevent violence as
(friends, brothers)

REMEMBER: 1 in 3 women in the US will experience intimate partner violence

during her life. That is 1 in 3 mothers, daughters, sisters, female students, friends.
That means at least 1 woman you know will experience sexual assault or domestic
violence in her lifetime.
 Can men support gender equality and learn to live
gender-equitable lives? Can men transform the ideas
and practices they associate with manhood? Can the
spheres where men and boys socialized and often learn
inequitable norms- home, school, work, sports, the
media and others- be changed?