To mark Domestic Violence Prevention Month, the Women’s Resource Centre offers five ways to be more than a bystander in violence against women:
1. Be part of the solution
The change starts with you – with your words, attitudes and behaviours. Commit to never using violence against women and to breaking the silence by speaking out against this abuse.
When others make disrespectful or sexist comments about women, your silence can be taken as agreement. Those comments, and your silence, build a culture where it’s okay to harass and abuse women. Refuse to join in. Walk away or tell them what they’re saying is not okay with you.
2. Lead by example
Be aware of how your behaviour influences the behaviour of your son, brother, nephew, colleagues, friends and teammates. When you speak and act respectfully toward women, you become a role model for others.
Don’t use language that reinforces negative views about women. Don’t insult men by comparing them to women (“You throw like a girl”). Don’t suggest only men have courage and strength (“Fight like a man”). Using these kinds of insults with men also insults your sisters, daughters, mothers, wives, girlfriends and women friends.
3. Tell others
Expand the reach of this campaign to get other men involved in breaking the silence on violence against women.
Use social media such as Twitter and Facebook. Click on the Stop the Violence Toolkit to download the banner for your website, print the poster or for suggestions on what to tweet and post on your wall. Talk to family, friends and others in your workplace, school or team. Encourage them to think about how they can play a role in this issue.
4. Offer support
Talk to a woman you know who is being abused emotionally, verbally, physically or sexually. Tell her you believe her and that it’s not her fault. Be sure to talk to her without her partner being present. Help her get information on abuse and explore options to escape further abuse.
You, or she, can call the family violence information/crisis line at 1-877-977-0007. Or explore resources available throughout the Manitoba.ca /domesticviolence website. You can also support community agencies that work with families affected by domestic violence by making a donation, supporting a fundraiser or volunteering.
5. Keep safe
Do not get in the middle of a domestic dispute. Call police if you see an assault happening.
