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What are men’s roles and responsibilities in ending violence against women?

Introduction

Gender-based violence is a problem impacting a sizable number of women globally.

Studies indicate that thirty percent of women globally experience physical or sexual non-partner

or partner violence. Additionally, more than two hundred million women have undergone female

genital mutilation. These issues are not only pertinent for violence survivors and their families

but similarly have a negative impact on the socio-economic status of a nation. In some

economies, gender-based violence related expenses cost more than three percent of their Gross

Domestic Product more than what the governments utilize on education. Similarly, adverse

impacts on the future economies loom large if this vise lacks comprehensive tackling. To

effectively tackle this social vice, it is imperative that the involvement of men in this fight

primarily as partners in the prevention suffices to help enhance the mitigation efforts. A lot of

effort has ensured to guarantee that there is greater participation of men in the battle to curtail

gender-based violence and this factor has manifested in the recent years. Since men are the main

protagonists in this equation, they must fully engage as participants in various programs

purposed at mitigating this widespread vice.

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Gender based violence as a costly widespread social problem.

Gender-based violence is a term widely utilized to depict various forms of violence

experienced by women. The violence encompasses sexual and physical assaults and other deeds

resulting in psychological, sexual injury and anguish to women. Gender-based violence encloses

family and domestic violence and also sexual assault and rape. In some instances, men’s violence

against women is another reference to gender-based violence; thus is typically violence that is

perpetrated by men against women. Even though most gender-based violence is perpetrated by

men, considerable amount of violence is committed by women against their counterparts and

even from children. Studies show that gender-based violence does not only cost lives; rather, this

form of violence significantly diminishes economic and social prospects. Estimations indicate

that more than fifty percent of sexual assaults get perpetrated on girls aged less than 16 years.

A report published by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

approximates that “in 2003 the costs of domestic violence in the United States exceeded $5.8

billion per year, with $4.1 billion going to direct medical and health care services and $1.8

billion the result of absenteeism” (Gasman et al 1).Elsewhere, studies have further indicated that

domestic violence costs some economies more than 2 billion dollars annually in declined

productivity, sick pay, and lost wages. For instance in the United States, the Novartis

Pharmaceutical Company was found liable for sexual harassment and discrimination cases and

ordered to pay 3.3 million USD in punitive charges. Likewise, the aggrieved female staffs were

entitled to seek further 300,000 USD each. (Cruz et al n.p). Mathematically, these punitive

charges are economically costly both to the liable party and the state general economy. The
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possibility of an establishment winding up operations due to such measures is rife. It is thus vital

for institutions and establishment to set out programs through which men get enlightened

regarding this vice. Such programs would be beneficial in establishments’ long run bottom line.

Gender based violence and public health.

Apart from gender-based violence being a matter of injustice and inequality, it is also a

health matter. Gender-based violence has a considerable impact on the woman’s well being. The

woman’s health not only focuses on injury and impulsive mortality but also on mental health-

related issues. Casey et al in their excerpt relate to this by stating “…the majority of intimate

partner and sexual violence resulting in serious injury or other psychological or economic

consequences is perpetrated by men (Casey et al 6). Such issues encompass depression, anxiety,

self-harm, and suicide. Issues of post-traumatic stress and substance abuse and reproductive

health also impact this population of abused women. Research indicates that intimate partner

violence is a principal contributor to mortality, illness, and disability in many women. This form

of violence accounts for a myriad of identifiable risk factors like smoking, obesity, hypertension,

and the bulk of non-communicative ailments. In addition to having a substantial economic cost

on the overall budget, this vice negatively impacts children either directly or indirectly.

Consequently, it is a prerequisite for men to take a responsible stance and spearhead the fight

against this vice since they are the chief perpetrators of the vice.

Violence Prevention

In the last few years, the prevention of gender-based violence has become a primary area

of focus for the US government. This factor mirrors the appreciation that every individual and

especially the man needs to counter the perpetrators of this vice. Casey et al states that”
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Engaging men and boys as participants and stakeholders in gender-based violence (GBV)

prevention initiatives is an increasingly institutionalized component of global efforts to end

GBV”(Casey et al 1). Men also require reacting positively to the victims of these heinous acts.

Men should necessarily work towards curtailing this form of violence from occurring in the first

instance. To mitigate and wipe out in totality occurrences of this violent behavior, it is

imperative for members of the society and especially men to address the necessary foundation of

sexual and physical violence within the community.

As a result of years of constant hard work and dedication by advocates, survivors,

educators, and various professionals, prevention work is becoming a reality. Mainly, activists

and advocates majoring in gender-based issues have worked tirelessly to ensure that women get

catered for appropriately if they encounter this vice. Men can assist these advocates in placing

gender-based violence on the public domain through campaigns and public forums. Discussions

involving gender-based violence should not be left to the women campaigners only; rather, men

should be at the forefront of the battle. By so doing, men will gain recognition both among the

victims of this vice and the entire women fraternity.

Additionally, men should be at the forefront of identifying and preventing possible acts of

violence against women. Since men are the likely perpetrators of these acts, their colleagues

understand better why they result in this uncalled-for behavior. Additionally, the recognition of

potential perpetrators of these acts within the communities should easily suffice. Male

campaigners should shoulder the responsibility of talking and supporting these likely

perpetrators to curtail the violence from occurring in the first place. Additionally, tertiary

prevention that involves affording assistance to perpetrators of previous entails male

campaigners. Reducing this vice from recurring is vital within the community, and men are the
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right candidates to carry out this task (Casey et al 3). Brisk and collated response by men to

perpetrators of gender-based violence can considerably mitigate opportunities for gender-based

violence from occurring.

Men’s Involvement

Men’s active involvement in participating or being engaged in efforts to mitigate gender-

based violence is not good enough. Although men find it difficult to speak up regarding violence

against women, reports in the US suggest that most men consider themselves able to help end the

vice. A considerable number of men are acquainting themselves with efforts to stop violence

both in the US and worldwide. Men have considerably enrolled in organizations that are

championing the fight against gender-based violence. Casey et al further states that “…men’s

engagement programming incorporating a ‘gender transformative’ approach is more likely to

successfully shift men’s gender and violence related attitudes and behaviors than programs

which do not explicitly address ideas about gender norms” (Casey et al 2).This fact is further

emphasized where men are increasingly becoming a target for education, among other forms of

intervention geared at mitigating widespread gender-based violence. Through various initiatives,

men engage themselves at different levels of the mitigation spectrum both in the US and the

whole world.

Additionally, the involvement of men in the prevention of gender-based violence is on

the public program. This involvement has resulted in the federal government, and the state

endorsing the plans of action concerning this program. When appropriately executed, violence

prevention efforts by men work. Well, structured interventions and training alter attitudes and

behaviors that are violence correlated as noted by Casey et al where they refer to” public
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education campaigns to foster an accurate understanding of the benefits of GBV-related

policies…”.(Casey et al 31).Thus inspirations and barriers to men’s participation in violence

mitigation need careful interrogation. It is imperative to appreciate why men involve themselves

in these matters. For appropriate involvement of men in gender-based violence issues, adequate

sensitization via listening to confessions by women regarding hostility must suffice. Naturally,

men relate to women suffering, and thus a graphic account of violence allures them to act

accordingly.

As noted, protagonists of gender based violence are men. Thus to successfully address

this vice, it is imperative for the respective bodies to engage men who are relevant stakeholders

in this case to help counter this epidemic. Casey et al argue that male stake holders incorporated

in this discourse thoroughly engage “political, cultural and religious leaders who are in positions

to influence” (Casey et al 31). Most of these stake holders Casey argues are mostly men. By

engaging this group of individuals, responsibilities of men will be well articulated and their

mandate in curtailing the vice well lay out.

Conclusion

Integrating men in the fight against gender-based violence is turning out to be more and

more institutionalized. The engagement of men in this fight permits for continual appreciation of

ethical and successful male interventions in future gender-based engagements. In the same

breath, the placement of men in anti-violence participation will result in the successful

implementation of gender-based transformative advances. As men gradually gain confidence and

become bolder while engaging in gender-based violence, individual programs must be put in

place to assist them in realizing this endeavor. Additionally, the federal government and state, in
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coordination with the private sector, must put in enough resources to help men successfully

engage in this discourse. Also, since men are the main protagonists in gender-based related

violations, they must be at the forefront of this struggle. Society should likewise offer them a

chance to carry out this mandate.

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Works cited

Casey, Erin, et al. "Gender transformative approaches to engaging men in gender-based violence

prevention: A review and conceptual model." Trauma, Violence, & Abuse 19.2 (2018): 1-15.

Cruz, Adrienne, and Sabine Klinger. "Gender based violence comes at high social and economic

cost." Geneva: International Labor Organization (2011).

Gasman, Nadine, and Gabriela Alvarez. "Gender: Violence Against Women." Americas

Quarterly (2016).