White Ribbon Campaign - Do any of the male posters support this ?

[Blistory]

Given that this is high profile following on from the horrible Roast Busters stuff going on in New Zealand, I was curious to see if this campaign really generates any attention in the UK.

White Ribbon

The link is blocked at my work could you give me some details of what its about?

The White Ribbon campaign is being promoted at my workplace (public sector), but I haven't really seen much about it elsewhere Blistory.

Spence82 - here you go

No. I think it's a flawed concept. If it said 'End male violence', then yes I would support it. Cue accusations of men supporting men beating up women.

Because I believe that the root cause, regardless of the victim, is the same. I believe that to run a campaign that - albeit not consciously - says 'beating up women bad, beating up men - not our problem' - is inherently flawed. And I don't have a problem, inasmuch as I wouldn't say 'don't run this campaign'. Imagine if it said 'don't beat up black women'.

I'd support something that said 'End interpersonal violence'. Making it specific to a gender is against my egalitarianism.

They specifically talk about and condemn all violence regardless of gender but point out :-

that the majority of violence is committed by men,

that when violence occurs at the hands of men it is more likely to involve serious harm

and they signpost male victims of DV appropriately.

What more do you want ? You are aware that this campaign was started by men ?

Are you a man experiencing violence against you?

Every act of violence is wrong and everyone, whether male or female, has the right to a life free of violence. Statistics show that domestic abuse against men is increasing in the UK and we do not deny or belittle women’s violence against men or violence in same-sex relationships.

If you are a man experiencing violence, you do not have to put up with it. Help is available. Contact Men’s Advice Line www.mensadviceline.org.uk 0808 801 0327. Respect also runs an online contact centre, Dads' Space: www.dads-space.com

Also Refuge have an area of their website dedicated to violence against men. Whilst there are a limited number of refuges for me and their children, for obvious reasons, we cannot link to them directly but the above advice lines can act as points of referral.

If you are a man experiencing violence in the Leeds area, there is a free telephone helpline in Leeds - MALE (Men's Advice Line and Enquiries) Tel. 0808 801 0327 This is a free phone line offering emotional and practical support as well as signposting to local services for men experiencing domestic violence - Mon, Tues, Weds 10.00am -1.00. and 2.00pm - 5.00. There is also a national website www.mankind.org.uk

We are also aware that the rates of violence against men has almost doubled since 2005. The BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast obtained figures from the Crowns Prosecution Service showing that almost 4,000 women were successfully prosecuted in the past year, compared with 1,500 women in 2005, a 169% increase.

However, we must remember that men, though, remain by far the main offenders, with the numbers convicted increasing from more than 28,000 in 2005 to just over 55,000 in 2010. Full story here

Are you experiencing violence from a same-sex partner ?

Broken rainbow offers specialist support to all members of lgbt communities. Their phone service is staffed Monday and Thursday 2pm - 8pm, and Wednesday 10am - 1pm. Phone 0300 999 5428. In an emergency phone 999.For more details of their services access the website: www.broken-rainbow.org.uk

I don't see where they condone female on male violence in the above

I don't want a what aboutthemenz campaign. I think a whatabouttheperpetrators campaign would be more beneficial to everybody. As I said, fix the root cause, don't just rescue a subset of victims.

A subset of victims ? How about the majority of victims ?

Don't you think that men are harmed by living in a society where their use of violence is tolerated and often expected ? Would you really ignore one cause just because not all causes are being equally promoted ?

I think we all agree with the message that violence is unacceptable so but it's a little bit too simplistic to think that the roots and causes amongst men and women are the same so what's wrong with addressing them differently.

I think - me, I - I think that the root problem, is male violence. I think that the majority of DV is against women. I think the the majority of victims of all violence are about equal -DV, muggings, street fight, assault, murder, GBH etc etc.

So, in my opinion, fixing the root cause - why men are taught by all of us that violence is an acceptable method for resolving issues - is not going to be addressed by this campaign.

It's like Biggedybiggedybongsoitis says. Campaigns like this make it seem like all men are a potential threat. A hidden caveat is hardly a good balance to the overwhelming projection of blame.

The difference in reasons between male/male violence and male/female violence are irrelevant. If both types are equally wrong, then why focus on just one or other?

Anyway, it's not up to me to tell people how they should campaign, only that I won't be supporting this one. Domestic violence is wrong, I'll oppose it when it appears and educate people where I can, but I won't give money to this group.

I feel similar to Biggedybiggedybongsoitis, although I don't think there is anything wrong with this campaign.

But every campaign has it's aims - it can't be everything for everyone.

I understand your point of view but if you don't support campaigns like this - what do you support ? That sounds as if I'm attacking you - I'm not, just genuinely curious as to what else is going on out there that will achieve what you want. Education is a big part of this campaign from what I can see, speaking out against violence is another big part of it.

MRAs don't appear to be talking out against men's violence so who is ?

Biggidy, every time I see you on a thread on FWR you say "I don't want to say whataboutthemenz" and then you go on to derail with "whataboutthemenz".

Why not start a seperate "whataboutthemenz" thread and let everyone else discuss the original topic if the thread.

Yes - our Gender Based Violence team has organised a big event here. It's being attended by some of my team and has attracted a range of partnership organisations.

Bunny, every time I see, you, you refuse to read what has been written and write about what you think has been written.

To be fair, it is a men's campaign for and by men but with the aim of highlighting the harm done to women by men. So, on this occasion, I was quite happy for the thread to be about men ( given that it's not about the MRA types)

I don't have strong views on it but in light of Steubenville, Roast Busters etc, it would be nice to see men doing something proactive about the way in which women are treated. Granted this campaign talks about ending violence against women but I think their educational aim is to ensure that young boys and men are taught to question violence, to recognise it and to reject that it is an intrinsic part of being a man.

I don't think that's such a bad thing.

As part of a larger mission, I agree, Blistory.

I totally agree it needs to be about male violence but I was talking about not supporting it because it only focuses on violence against women. Why do violence against women campaigns always need a disclaimer of "and men are victims of violence, and kids, and kittens"? It is obviously true but it only serves to lose focus of a very gendered issue.

Sorry if I was a bit blunt - no excuse but I'm having a very bad day.

That's cool, it happens to us all. Off to have one myself now

I support this in principle, although I would be surprised if anyone who was disposed to violence (against anyone regardless of gender) would support the campaign - making it somewhat moot.

That said, I dont really 'get' awareness campaigns of any type really - I think most people are aware of diffrent types of cancer, HIV, domestic violence etc.

Re: targeting. I suppose campaigns must target specific types of wrong. Otherwise focus will be lost, too much targeting makes focus too narrow consider:
End John's violence against Sarah
End young white male violence against poor African women
End Young Male violence against poor women
End male violence against women
End male violence
End Violence
End EVERYTHING BAD

Sorry if that sounds stupid, I dont often weigh into these types of debates!

I don't support this campaign - hastily adding I had never heard of it until today.

The change in definition I have whined about elsewhere leads immediately - and correctly - to the charge there is loads of domestic abuse of men.

Beating and physical injury of partners is still - I thought - primarily man on woman or man on man, and a key to focus on. The rest of the stuff dilutes the message.

"The rest of the stuff dilutes the message"

Interesting, what is the message and where is the message being spread ? I can't think of a campaign with any male support that is spreading any message to young men that violence doesn't have to be part of who they are.

Whose responsibility is it to spread such a message ? It's all very well and good explaining to the men in your life but what about others without role models and mentors - who educates them ?

"OneMoreChap" - so your point is that this particular campaign isn't focused enough ? Too focused ? Misguided ? What would you change ?