Woman Against Violence, 2002-2003, Issue 13: 25-32

This paper outlines Australian community violence prevention education campaigns in the context of the author's belief that efforts to prevent violence against women will fail unless they undermine the cultural and collective supports for violence found among many men., Campaigns directed at adult men such as NSW's "Violence Against Women - It's Against The Rules" are focussed on, and some of the dilemmas involving such campaigns are examined. Three broad strategies used in these campaigns are identified: defining manhood as non-violent, drawing onmasculine culture:; and showing men speaking out or standing together against violence. The paper discusses the difficult balancing act of drawing on masculine culture at the same time as challenging aspects of it. The author identifies that the five key challenges in this are a of work are to: 1. undermine discourses of sexulity; 2. teach young men how to do consent; 3. target masculine bonding and culture; 4. address social diversity; 5. address men's victimisation. The paper concludes that profound changes in men's lives and social constructions of masculinity are necessary and community education strategies are a key element in violence prevention efforts. Record #5159