Four Ways You Can Help Stop Violence Against Women
“The people who could do most to improve the situation of so many women and children are in fact men. It’s in our hands to stop violence against women.”
– Patrick Stewart
At the core of our brand, we strongly believe that men have the power to stand up against and stop violence. We’ve met so many good men out there who share the same conviction as Irrelevant Society – that violence against women is wrong. But what does standing up against violence look like? Here are some practical tips to give you a starting point.
#1 Start at home
The most basic form of standing up for women – and the one with the longest impact – is prevention. Teach your sons, nephews, brothers or neighbour’s kids to respect our women – not just through their actions, but also through their words. Unhelpful sayings like: “You throw like a girl” or “don’t cry like a girl” must stop. This kind of talk sends a message to our young men, as well as women, that being a girl is a bad thing.
#2 Say Something
Moving your conviction from the home to your community, don’t stay silent. When you hear a mate, or any guy, make a distasteful joke about women, say something. Not saying anything means you become complicit and enable this behavior, and could lead to the assumption that you agree with his joke. White Ribbon has lots of helpful tips on how to speak out, check them out here.
#3 Talk about it
Be brave and talk about it with your mates. Starting a conversation about violence against women is not easy and can be awkward, but it’s a powerful act of standing up. The branding of our clothing provides a great conversation starter. And of course, educating yourself about the facts of violence against women is a good starting point for informed conversations.
#4 Intervene
If you witness violence, the first thing to remember is to always keep yourself, and then others, safe. Focus on what you can do, not what you can’t. Stand close by but within a safe distance to make sure that the violent person knows they are being watch, ask for help and call 000 if there is an emergency.
Of course there are so many things that we can do to stand up, however recognizing the issue is the first step towards change.
In line with the White Ribbon day, from October-November Irrelevant Society will donate 20% of its profits to White Ribbon Australia. Find out more about White Ribbon Australia here.
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