Using Their Strength: Engaging Men at Minority Institutions to Prevent Family Violence

Minority serving colleges and universities historically suffer from a lack of funding and support around engaging men in preventing violence against women. This presentation discusses a promising collaboration between Men Can Stop Rape and the Office on Women's Health at the US Department of Health and Human Services who for the past two years have partnered to work with historically black, Hispanic-serving and tribal institutions to prevent first-time male perpetration of domestic, dating and sexual violence; to provide training and support for men to engage other men in prevention of violence against women; and to help men develop skills to support survivors of such violence. The program begins by helping men identify forms of traditional masculinity that are problematic—not only to women, but also for them—but the long-term focus of the project is helping men find in themselves and their communities healthier, non-violent versions of masculinity, and encouraging and supporting those. These versions of masculinity place a far greater emphasis on gender equality and violence prevention, but are often ignored or drowned out by other social messages. Group members at each school work to learn and grow personally, and to bring their communities along to become places where family violence and other forms of violence against women are not tolerated. This presentation will discuss program successes and challenges, the foundation of the program, and best practices that may be applied to other communities.