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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Patrick J. Lemmon, MA, Men Can Stop Rape, PO Box 57144, Washington, DC 20037, 202-265-6530, plemmon@mencanstoprape.org

BACKGROUND: Reviews of gender violence prevention programs reveal most programs are limited to single or short series (1-3 sessions) presentations. Scholarly research indicates that effective behavior change programs should be longer. DEVELOPMENT: In order to develop long term behavior change programming, Men Can Stop Rape (MCSR) researched two theoretical frameworks – dominant and counterstory theory and the social ecological mode. Counterstory theory creates a positive means of resisting the dominant stories of traditional masculinity, and the social ecological model, comprised of four different levels of the social ecology, offers a holistic, integrated approach to social change. IMPLEMENTATION: The Men of Strength Club, MCSR's behavior change programming targeting high school age men, builds young men's capacity to challenge harmful aspects of traditional masculinity and to embrace their vital role as allies with women and girls in fostering healthy relationships and gender equity by holding multi-session, curriculum-based meetings throughout the school year. The curriculum first raises members' awareness of the dominant stories of masculinity and second helps them understand and develop masculine counterstories. The club also intentionally addresses the different levels of the social ecological model. EVALUATION: A logic model that moves from dominant stories of masculinity to counterstories of masculinity was used to develop quantitative and qualitative measures to determine the effectiveness of reaching the members of five Men of Strength Clubs in Washington, DC. Findings revealed favorable changes related to knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors after completion of the 16-week MOST Club.

Learning Objectives:

• Define dominant stories and counterstories as they relate to masculinity.
• Identify the four levels of the social ecological model.
• Explain the importance of using dominant and counterstory theory in conjunction with the social ecological model to implement gender violence prevention programs.

Keywords: Sexual Assault, Violence Prevention

Related Web page: www.mencanstoprape.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered