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Preventing Sexual Violence on Campuses Across Ohio. Alex Leslie Men Can Stop Rape Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. Welcome. What is Men Can Stop Rape? Positive approach Focus on Masculinity Sustained Work What is Primary Prevention?. Why is rape also a men’s issue?. Men rape
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Preventing Sexual Violence on Campuses Across Ohio Alex Leslie Men Can Stop Rape Cleveland Rape Crisis Center
Welcome • What is Men Can Stop Rape? • Positive approach • Focus on Masculinity • Sustained Work • What is Primary Prevention?
Why is rape also a men’s issue? • Men rape • Men are raped • Men know survivors • Men are confined by rape, too • Men Can Stop Rape
Dominant Stories of Masculinity A dominant story as it relates to manhood is a narrative representing the values and messages associated with a shared understanding of what it means to be a man as defined by traditional masculinity.
Examples of Dominant Stories from Maxim Magazine Cover Headlines Sex Express! How to spot the girl with the condom in her purse Two Billion Women… time to get busy! Three Extra Inches Please! Can surgery turn your toothpick into a baseball bat? Any Woman Anytime 8 pick-up tricks than never fail (we bar-tested ‘em) Mind Control Made Easy! 22 ways to make people do whatever you want Filthy Stinking Rich Cash so quick it’s like stealing! Mexican Gladiators Border town brawlers fight for cash and glory Take Down a Terrorist! The tools and skills you need to take control now!
Real Man & the Dominant Story • Smart • Rich • No self control • Has an army to back him, is an “Army of One” • Brags • Physically strong • Takes care of his own • Married • Wise • Straight/Homophobic • White/Black • Self-made • Shows no emotions • Surrounded by women • Lots of sex • Demands respect • Takes up space • Invulnerable • Charitable • Has power over others • Proud to be an American
Definition of the Dominant Story of Traditional Masculinity A dominant story as it relates to manhood is a narrative representing the values and messages associated with a shared understanding of what it means to be a man as defined by traditional masculinity.
The “Strongest Man You Know” Exercise • Who is the Strongest Man you personally know or knew? • What are the attributes that made him a Strong Man? • How did he show strength through his interactions with other people?
Appreciating the Positive Counterstoriesthat Already Exist Strong men are… • Considerate • Caring • Good fathers • Good partners • Able to Take care of us • Good listeners • Empathetic • Able to Provide for us • Able to Overcome hardship • Generous • Able to change • Able to admit mistakes • Able to stand up for what they believe
Using the Counterstory to Overcome Barriers and Challenge the Dominant Stories A counterstory is a narrative that resists the values and expectations of masculinity’s dominant stories and therefore represents a moral shift. --Adapted from Hilde Nelson’s Damaged Identities, Narrative Repair
The Masculinity Tightrope… Counterstories Responsible Owns up to mistakes Sacrifices for others Good listeners Able to change Dominant Stories Tough Unemotional Always in charge Using force Does whatever it takes
The Strength Approach Moving beyond just physical strength to include… …STRENGTH as speaking up for what’s right …STRENGTH as speaking from the heart …STRENGTH as a commitment to others and community
What do you think? ___% of college men “report some level of discomfort when men use terms like ‘bitch’ and ‘slut’ to refer to women.” What do you think the percentage is?
What do you think? 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 81% *Berkowitz, 2003
Bystander Interventions You are at a party at a friend’s house and have had a few drinks. You see a guy you know about to go upstairs with a woman who is visibly drunk. How would you want the men you work with to respond in this situation? What would YOU tell them to do in that situation?
Bystander Interventions • Challenge and confront • Clarification and question • Involve authorities • Invoke position and responsibility • Group intervention • Discuss consequences Intervention Continuum
What can men do…? • Listen (to women) and talk (to men) • Be an ally • Speak up and speak out • Challenge victim blaming • Educate yourself further • Know your local resources
Thank you! www.mencanstoprape.org