White Ribbon Day is on the 25th of November; its aim is to raise awareness and prevent men committing acts of violence against women.
Violence against women is a public health issue; on average one woman a week is murdered by a current or previous intimate partner.
White Ribbon Day acknowledges that men play a role in preventing violence against women, and prevention programs that engage men on multiple levels (individual, community, and worldwide) is crucial in changing the attitudes and behaviours of men.
What is intimate partner violence?
Intimate partner violence is behaviour committed by a current or ex-partner that causes psychological, physical, or sexual harm. It can include controlling behaviour, physical aggression, sexual coercion, and psychological abuse.
What is gender-based violence?
Gender-based violence, also known as Gendered violence, is violence directed against a person because of their gender. People of all genders can experience gender-based violence, but the majority of victims are women and girls.
The following are examples of gender-based violence:
- Intimate partner violence
- Physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological violence
- Sex trafficking
- Honour killings
- Child marriage
- Genital mutilation
- Threats and coercion
Violence perpetrated by men occurs across all cultures worldwide. 95% of all victims of violence, regardless of gender, have experienced violence from a male perpetrator.
How can you hold yourself accountable if you have been abusive?
Often people do not want to admit to hurting others or acknowledge if they have been abusive. The language around abuse and violence implies that there is a dichotomy; there is only victims and abusers. However, psychological studies and research into attachment and family systems reveals that human beings are not this black and white – human beings are complex and multifaceted. People who behave in an abusive manner have often been the victims of abuse or violence as children. This in no way absolves them of any violence they have committed. It can explain their behaviour, but it does not excuse it. White Ribbon Day explores how a culture of toxic masculinity contributes to barriers in healing from trauma.
What is toxic masculinity?
Toxic masculinity refers to the intersection of traditional gender roles and masculine social norms that result in harm to all genders; an example of this is the patriarchal construct that men must be competitive, dominant, or aggressive to be deemed “masculine enough”. Toxic masculinity contributes to violence perpetrated by men when society values patriarchal constructs while simultaneously demonizing behaviours deemed to be “feminine”, such as demonstrations of empathy or emotional expression and in turn punishes men that express feminine traits. The restriction of emotional express, and immense pressure to conform to masculine expectations may prime men to engage in violence, assault, verbal aggression, and bullying.
What can I do?
- Create safe, healthy environments and relationships that prevent modelling violence
- Encourage men and boys to express and regulate their emotions
- Challenge traditional gender roles
- Speak out against all forms of violence
- Learn how prejudice influences violence against women and girls e.g. racism, homophobia, transphobia, fatphobia, and ableism
- Be empathetic and respectful to the victims and survivors who come forward with their experiences of gender-based violence
White Ribbon Day acknowledges that the sexist and harmful beliefs that gender-based violence is rooted in exists on a spectrum and dismantling systems of oppression will result in the prevention of harm and murder to women and girls.
Contact New Directions Psychology for more information.
