Ten Things Men Can Do to End Sexism and Male Violence Against Women

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1. Read about yourself. Read articles, essays, books about masculinity, gender inequality, and the root causes of sexual violence. Educate yourself and others about the connections between larger social forces and the conflicts between individual women and men. Resources: R. W. Connell, Gender and Power; D. Gilmore, Manhood in She Making; M. Messner, D. Sabo, eds., Sport, Men and the Gender Order; J. Stoltenberg, Reusing to Be a Man.

2. Understand how your own attitudes and actions perpetuate sexism and violence, and work toward changing them. Examples of typical sexist/abusive behavior:
   • Pressuring a woman to have sex (includes Rape, Date Rape).

   • Taunting or whistling at women, following women around,

     embarrassing women in public (Sexual Harassment).

   • Controlling women by using threatening gestures, by outshouting

     women, blocking doorways, driving recklessly (Intimidation).

   • Verbally assaulting women by name calling, swearing, mocking, ridiculing, criticizing, accusing, trivializing (Psychological Abuse).

3. Confront sexist, racist, homophobic and all other bigoted remarks or jokes. Boycott comedians such as Andrew Dice Clay who verbally assault women in their acts. Boo in comedy clubs when male comedians tell sexist jokes.

4. Recognize homophobia and speak out against gay-bashing. Discrimination against lesbians and gays is a key way in which we're all confined in restrictive gender roles. See: Homophobia: How We All Pay the Price, by W. Blumenfeld; Homophobia: A Weapon of Sexism, by S. Pharr.

5. Don't fund sexism. Don't purchase any magazine, rent any video or buy any piece of music that portrays women in a sexually degrading or violent manner. Protest sexism in the media.

6. Support candidates for political office who are committed to the full social, economic and political equality of women. Actively oppose candidates who are not.

7. Support and fight for increased state and federal funding for battered women's shelters and rape crisis centers. Volunteer where men are needed in public schools, youth outreach centers and political lobby groups.

8. Support or propose curriculum changes, at every level of the educational system, which mandate courses and programs dealing with sexism and sexual violence. Urge coaches of boys' and men's athletic teams to require their players to attend workshops and seminars on sexism and male violence against women.

9. Organize or join a group of men, in school, at your workplace or among friends, to work against sexism and violence.

10. Support feminists. Commit yourself to ending oppression in all its forms.

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For more information, contact:

HASM
c/o Student Activities Office
108 Longfellow Hall
Appian Way
Cambridge MA 02138

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All information presented here is property of Harvard Anti-Sexist Men, (HASM) which was founded in 1991 to encourage men to take responsibility for sexism and male violence against women, and to challenge traditional concepts of masculinity.

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Last modified: December 3, 1995