10 Things Men Can Do To Prevent Gender Violence

1. Approach gender violence as a men's issue involving men of all ages and socioeconomic, racial and ethnic backgrounds.

2. If a brother, friend, classmate, or teammate is abusing his female partner-don't look the other way. Urge him to seek help. Don't remain silent.

3. Have the courage to look inward. Question your own attitudes. Try hard to understand how your own attitudes and actions may inadvertently perpetuate sexism and violence, and work to change them.

4. If you suspect that a woman close to you is being abused or has been sexually assaulted, gently ask if you can help.

5. If you are emotionally, psychologically, physically, or sexually abusive to women, or have been in the past, seek professional help now.

6. Be an ally to women who are working to end all forms of gender violence. Support the work of campus-based women's centers.

7. Recognize and speak out against homophobia and gay-bashing. Discrimination and violence against lesbians and gays is wrong in and of itself.

8. Educate yourself and others about how larger social forces affect the conflicts between individual men and women.

9. Say NO to pornography and sexism.

10. Mentor and teach young boys to be men in ways that don't involve degrading or abusing girls and women. Volunteer to work with gender violence prevention programs, including anti-sexist men's programs. Lead by example.

(Jackson Katz, 1999)

 Ask for help

 If you are in a violent relationship and need help, call 1-800-799-SAFE.

To help stop domestic violence in your community, call 1-800-END-ABUSE.

 Race/Age

 - Domestic violence is statistically consistent across racial and ethnic boundaries.

- Women ages 19-29 reported more violence by intimates than any other age group.

- Women aged 46 or older are least likely to be battered by an intimate.

- In a 1990 restraining order study, the age of abusers ranged from 17 - 70. Two-thirds of the abusers were between the ages 24 and 40.

(http://www.abanet.org/domviol/stats.html)

 Gender

 - 90 - 95% of domestic violence victims are women.

- As many as 95% of domestic violence perpetrators are male.

- Much of female violence is committed in self-defense, and inflicts less injury than male violence.

- During 1992-1993, women were 6 times more likely to experience violence by an intimate partner than men.

- The chance of being victimized by an intimate is 10 times greater for a woman than a man.

- 70% of intimate homicide victims are female.

- Male perpetrators are 4 times more likely to use lethal violence than females.

(http://www.abanet.org/domviol/stats.html)

 Same Sex Violence

 - The prevalence of domestic violence among Gay and Lesbian couples is approximately 25 - 33%.

- Battering among Lesbians crosses age, race, class, lifestyle and socio-economic lines.

- Each year, between 50,000 and 100,000 Lesbian women and as many as 500,000 Gay men are battered.

- While same-sex battering mirrors heterosexual battering both in type and prevalence, its victims receive fewer protections.

- Seven states define domestic violence in a way that excludes same-sex victims; 21 states have sodomy laws that may require same-sex victims to confess to a crime in order to prove they are in a domestic relationship.

- Many battered Gays or Lesbians fight back to defend themselves - it is a myth that same-sex battering is mutual.

- By 1994, there were over 1,500 shelters and safe houses for battered women. many of these shelters routinely deny their services to victims of same-sex battering.

- Same-sex batterers use forms of abuse similar to those of heterosexual batterers. they have an additional weapon in the threat of "outing" their partner to family, friends, employers or community.

(http://www.abanet.org/domviol/stats.html)

Laws (state and federal)

Idaho Law:

Please reference: http://www3.state.id.us/cgi-bin/newidst?sctid=180090018.K

for more information on Idaho Statutes for Title 18 (Crimes and Punishments) and Chapter 9 (Assault and Battery ). 

          REMEMBER:  In the State of Idaho Consent CANNOT be given to the sexual act if the person is:

1.     Under the age of 18 years

2.     Coerced by the use of or threatened use of force

3.     Under the influence of a mental disorder, drugs, alcohol, sleep or any other similar impaired state.

4.     Is intentionally deceived as to the nature of the act.
         

   Federal Law

Please reference: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo/regulations.htm

  ISU Campus Law: Student Code of Conduct (b7):

Please reference:  http://www.isu.edu/references/st.handbook/conduct.html

B-7. Sexual Harassment
Students have the right to protection from sexual harassment. Defined and addressed in two areas of the student handbook: See II.B.2.c. "Sexual Assault/Misconduct" in the student code (pg. 32) or the EEO/Affirmative Action Policy of the University (pg. 42) or contact the Division of Student Affairs. Information can also be found at the Faculty/Staff Handbook website <www.isu.edu/references/fs.handbook/part6/6> and the Idaho State University Student Handbook website at www.isu.edu/references/st.handbook/.

II. Student Code of Conduct

B-2. Under the general heading of inappropriate behavior, the following are specifically prohibited:

  a. Physical Abuse , Intimidation, or Harassment: This includes threatened, attempted, or actual physical abuse, physical intimidation, or physical harassment of any person on University property or at University- sponsored functions. Violations against persons affiliated with the University may occur in any location.

  b. Verbal or Written Abuse or Harassment: This includes verbal or written (including electronic) expressions that are: (a) beyond reasonable opinion; and (b) intimidating, threatening, or coercive in content or tone. These expressions may be directed towards any other person(s) on University property or at University-sponsored events, or towards individuals affiliated with the University regardless of location.

  c. Sexual Misconduct: The University does not tolerate any form of sexual misconduct and encourages all members of the University community to report any and all incidents of sexual misconduct to one of the following:
    * ISU Public Safety (282-2515)
    * Student Affairs Office (282-2794)
    * EEO/Affirmative Action Office (282-2794)
    * Janet C. Anderson Gender Resource Center (282-2805)
    * Housing Department staff members (282-2120)
    * Pocatello Police Department (234-6100)

If you believe you have been involved in an incident of sexual misconduct, you have the right to pursue action through the University judicial system and/or the appropriate law enforcement authorities, and/or the courts. ISU further encourages anyone who has been involved in such an incident to pursue action through appropriate law enforcement authorities and/or the courts. The University wishes to encourage victims to report incidents of sexual misconduct and therefore reserves the right to waive disciplinary charges against victims for circumstances surrounding the incident. For example, a victim who had been an underage drinker would not typically face charges of violating alcohol policies.

Sexual Misconduct is any sexual act which violates the laws of the State of Idaho; and/or includes, but is not limited to: acts of rape (stranger and acquaintance or date rape) and other forms of coerced sexual activity, including unwanted touching, fondling or other forms of sexual conduct. Any sexual activity which is entered into without consent of both or all persons involved is a violation of this policy. A person may not avoid responsibility for a sexual activity because of impairment due to the influence of alcohol or other drugs. A person is deemed incapable of giving consent when that person is a minor under the age of 18 years, is mentally disabled, mentally incapacitated, physically helpless, under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the point of being unable to make a rational decision, unconscious or asleep. The degree of impairment of a person's ability to give or withhold consent may be introduced as pertinent information at any University disciplinary hearing. A person always retains the right to revoke consent at any time during a sexual act.

Definitions

Sexual Assault:

Any form of non-consenting sexual activity, which encompasses all unwanted sexual acts ranging from sexual harassment to fondling to penetration.  Sexual assault occurs when the victim is coerced, unable to give consent or is deceived as a nature of the act.

 Domestic Violence:

Any form of violence (emotional/verbal abuse, physical abuse, &/or sexual abuse) that occurs between person who currently are or previously had been in a romantic relationship.

 Consent:

To agree to do something, to give permission, approval, or assent to something proposed or requested.  Sexual assault occurs when there is sexual contact or penetration without consent.

Anything but a SOBER, 18 years of age or older, YES is a NO!!!!

Consent is only for that activity.

Don’t assume that because you receive permission to kiss someone that they want to go any further.

Everyone has the responsibility to create safe, equal sexual interactions. 

 Stalking:

The intentional, unlawful, and repeated harassment and/or following of a person which causes that person to be in reasonable fear that he or she may be injured.

Contact Us: 

If you or someone you know has been a victim of violence (rape, domestic, stalking, etc.) please contact the police immediately.  If you need to speak to an advocate please contact Project Hope Advocacy Program at 282-HOPE.

The Janet C. Anderson Gender Resource Center,

Graveley Hall North, First Floor,

RM. 117 & 119

Or

You may contact the Men Encouraging Non-Violence Group

program coordinator at 282-6061