Addressing sexual violence and rape culture: Issues and interventions targeting boys and men

While girl-led projects that address sexual violence can empower girls to seek consent and to understand their right to safety, this alone cannot deal with the reality of everyday violence. While girls are told to empower themselves and to voice their concerns, the surrounding cultural environment often reinforces silence, dismissal and retribution towards women who speak out. Men and boys need to be part of the solution. This briefing investigates the potentials of pro-feminist approaches to gender-based violence (GBV)targeting boys and men.
Using examples from South Africa and North America, I look at various approaches and initiatives taken by and with men and boys, often with a desire to centre more radical analysis of patriarchy within the work itself. The briefing unpacks some of the dilemmas and potentials that have been raised by working with men and boys as allies around sexual violence, and ways to distinguish pro-feminist projects.
© 2015 Shannon Walsh