Standing Together: Men Against Rape

Published: October 15, 2010 | Read Time: 2 minutes

The Center for Women and Families at Southern Utah University will host the internationally-acclaimed “Men Can Stop Rape” training course, free to SUU students, faculty and staff, next Friday, October 22 and Saturday, October 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days in the Sterling Church Auditorium within the Student Center Rotunda.

Men Can Stop Rape provides an awareness and understanding of the issues surrounding violence against women. The two-day workshop aims to build men's capacity to challenge harmful aspects of traditional masculinity, to value alternative visions of male strength, and to embrace their vital role as allies with women and girls in fostering healthy relationships and gender equity.

Topics of discussion during the two-day workshop include dominant men and masculinity, prevention of men’s violence against women and bystander intervention.

Additionally, the second day will focus on mobilizing a campus contingent of Men of Strength – a student-run, faculty-advised club that will serve as a more permanent campus resource to further the cause through campus educational activities, work with high school youth, college fraternities and male athletes, and local service projects.

Men play a fundamental role in reducing sexual violence against women by challenging rape‐supporting behaviors and by raising awareness about the damaging impact of rape.

There are several important reasons why men need to be included in this conversation:

1) Men commit the majority of sexual violence crimes, including against other men.

2) Not solely a female concern, a staggering 10 to 20 percent of males are sexually violated sometime in their lives.

3) The two percent of men that do rape a woman have now labeled all men as “possible rapists”, encouraging women to approach many male-female relationships on the defensive.

4) A supportive male presence during a survivor's recovery is invaluable. At some point in every man's life, someone close to him will likely disclose that they are a survivor of sexual violence; men must be prepared to respond with sensitivity, compassion and understanding.

5) Men can stop rape.

If you are interested in attending or want more information about this event, contact the Center for Women and Families at 435-875-8752 or womenscenter@suu.edu.

Additional information about the national Men Can Stop Rape Program is available online.

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Contact Information:

435-586-5400
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