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Ten Things Men Can Do to End Sexism and Male Violence Against
Women
Read about yourself. Read articles, essays, books about
masculinity, gender inequality, and the root causes of sexual violence.
Educate yourself and others about the connections between larger social forces
and the conflicts between individual women and men. Resources: R. W. Connell,
Gender and Power; D. Gilmore, Manhood in She Making; M. Messner, D. Sabo,
eds., Sport, Men and the Gender Order; J. Stoltenberg, Reusing to Be a
Man.
Understand how your own attitudes and actions perpetuate sexism and
violence, and work toward changing them. Examples of typical sexist/abusive
behavior:
Pressuring a woman to have sex (includes Rape, Date Rape).
Taunting or whistling at women, following women around, embarrassing women in public (Sexual Harassment).
Controlling women by using threatening gestures, by out-shouting women, blocking doorways, driving recklessly (Intimidation).
Verbally assaulting women by name calling, swearing, mocking,
ridiculing, criticizing, accusing, trivializing (Psychological Abuse).
Confront sexist, racist, homophobic and all other bigoted remarks
or jokes. Boycott comedians such as Andrew Dice Clay who verbally assault
women in their acts. Boo in comedy clubs when male comedians tell sexist
jokes.
Recognize homophobia and speak out against gay-bashing.
Discrimination against lesbians and gays is a key way in which we're all
confined in restrictive gender roles. See: Homophobia: How We All Pay the
Price, by W. Blumenfeld; Homophobia: A Weapon of Sexism, by S. Pharr.
Don't fund sexism. Don't purchase any magazine, rent any video or
buy any piece of music that portrays women in a sexually degrading or violent
manner. Protest sexism in the media.
Support candidates for political office who are committed to the
full social, economic and political equality of women. Actively oppose
candidates who are not.
Support and fight for increased state and federal funding for
battered women's shelters and rape crisis centers. Volunteer where men are
needed in public schools, youth outreach centers and political lobby groups.
Support or propose curriculum changes, at every level of the
educational system, which mandate courses and programs dealing with sexism and
sexual violence. Urge coaches of boys' and men's athletic teams to require
their players to attend workshops and seminars on sexism and male violence
against women.
Organize or join a group of men, in school, at your workplace or
among friends, to work against sexism and violence.
Support feminists. Commit yourself to ending oppression in all its
forms.
For more information, contact:
HASM c/o Student Activities Office 108 Longfellow Hall Appian
Way Cambridge MA 02138
All information presented here is property of Harvard Anti-Sexist Men, (HASM)
which was founded in 1991 to encourage men to take responsibility for sexism and
male violence against women, and to challenge traditional concepts of
masculinity.