Men, Violence Against Women, and What We Can Do About It
Many of our posts are about the impact violence has on its victims, often specifically violence against women. We have been rallying to get the Violence Against Women Act reauthorized , a great deal of our time is spent helping domestic violence victims, often women. Much of our work is reactionary, how to heal, how to deal, what to do after a traumatic event. But what if there was no violence against women? What if the climate that allows, ignores or encourages men to perpetrate violence against women changed? There are organizations that are working to challenge men and boys to define their own masculinity. I was especially moved by a speech given by Tony Porter about the "manbox." Men are told that their emotions need to contained within a box that includes only anger and fearlessness. Men and boys are taught that they are strong, which in turn means women are weak. That in order to be a "real" man, th...