Engaging men in the prevention of violence against women

As part of growing attention towards the role of men and boys in the primary prevention of men’s violence against women, there are an increasing number of initiatives to engage men as allies in workplaces. This article explores the part the business sector can play in developing such initiatives, and how to engage successfully with businesses and the men within them. It is based upon key-informant interviews with 20 educators and advocates in England working with or within businesses. The research highlighted multiple opportunities presented by engaging men in the business sector: businesses have much to gain from taking on violence prevention; there are multiple ways in which they can contribute both internally and externally; and they provide a vital context for recruiting men. However, this work also faces challenges: preventing violence against women is underprioritised by many businesses; neoliberal, masculinised business cultures can compromise violence prevention work; and attempting to involve men in meaningful change is difficult, potentially invoking tensions and defensiveness. Nevertheless, we argue that it is vital to confront these challenges and expand efforts in the business sector to engage men in ending violence against women – with care, substantive commitment to gender equality and ongoing critical self-reflection

Business as usual · Business sector · Compromise · Context (archaeology · Domestic violence · Poison control · Work (physics · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies