Use Your Strength: Mobilizing Young Men to Prevent Sexual and Dating Violence

For more than 10 years Men Can Stop Rape has conducted programs for men and boys in middle school, high school and college settings, that engage them to prevent violence against women in a variety of forms by critically examining masculinity and becoming better allies of women and girls. This film profiles programs in four sites: Banneker, Cardozo and School Without Walls high schools, and Georgetown University, in Washington, DC, where Men Can Stop Rape conducts year-long, curriculum based programming with young men. In contrast to traditional efforts that address men as “the problem,” Men Can Stop Rape's work embraces them as vital allies with the will and character to make healthy choices and foster safe, equitable relationships. Viewers of the film learn how dominant stories and counter stories of masculinity can help young men play a role in constructing a world free of violence against women and girls—a world that will benefit us all. Through exercises and activities in the film, the young men speak about and reflect on personal experiences with violence and masculinity, and relate these to violence against women and to their role as agents of change in preventing men's violence in a variety of different forms. They also speak about ways in which they challenge received notions and dominant stereotypes about masculinity and work to create gender equitable communities that benefit men and women alike.