This article has been written by Ms. Vijetha Saishree Palle, a 1 year student of Symbiosis Law School, NOIDA
ABSTRACT
In recent years, there has been a growing surge in the discussions Regarding domestic violence. The contemporary world has noticed a profound transformation that has actively acknowledged the critical role that men play in addressing preventive factors of domestic violence. The traditional notion portrayed the concept of domestic violence exclusively as a women-centric concern. The patriarchal society saw women as victims and the men as perpetrators. The transformations in the contemporary world recognized and acknowledged the collective responsibilities of both genders and made the concept of domestic violence free from any gender biases. The article explores the changing dynamics of the involvement of men in preventing domestic violence. The article further examines multiple examples of successful Initiatives and campaigns initiated in various parts of the world by delving into the realm of domestic violence and understanding the involvement of the role of men. The article sheds light on the integral and vital part they play in fostering a healthier and equal society, eradicating this concept of domestic violence.
INTRODUCTION
Domestic violence is a prevalent and pervasive concern. It has traveled across boundaries, be it cultural, geographical, social, or economic. The discussions or dialogues related to domestic violence have been largely women-centric, wherein the emphasis was primarily on women as victims and men as perpetrators. Several stories and cases jointly over centuries have made us consider this notion. However, as times have changed, we must change society’s outlook and how we perceive this general notion. It is crucial to recognize men as crucial stakeholders in battling domestic violence. The shift or changeover in the general outlook has questioned the stereotypical notions of society. Through this article, we aim to delve into the ever-evolving position of men in addressing and combating domestic violence and highlight the changing narratives in the societal perspective and programs. We will also underline the importance of their active involvement in various programs worldwide.
SHIFT IN THE SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES.
It is vital to comprehend the basic concept of domestic violence. Domestic violence is a crime that comprises a range of abusive behaviors, which may be physical, psychological, emotional, or even financial or economic. This societal attitude sees women as a primary victim in mases of domestic violence and are disproportionately impacted. It becomes vital to recognize and understand that men can be equally victims of domestic violence. The stereotypical idea of a society that holds a man to be stronger or more resilient discourages several male victims from actually reporting the abuse.
The Traditional narrative concerning domestic violence has been framed within the binary viewpoints and is often based on gender perspective. The traditional narrative typically assumes that women are exclusively the victims, whereas men are solely responsible as abusers. This traditional notion has hindered the process of combating domestic violence and has overlooked the intricate dynamics and the diverse forms of domestic abuse that can take place.
One of the vital and critical solutions to combat or handle domestic violence effectively is to contest stereotypes and stimulate an open discussion that acknowledges the diversities in the forms of abuse or experiences of every victim. Society should recast and work on creating a more open atmosphere. Men can be promoted to speak openly about their experience of abuse and report duly. Society must restrain itself from forming detrimental stereotypes, which may stigmatize male victims to report.
The importance of male members of society as allies rather than enemies is paramount. Men can play a crucial role in altering the societal viewpoint towards addressing and actually combating domestic violence. This would ramp up and increase the diligent and effective engagement in various exchanges that question various forms of toxic masculinity, which have been engraved in Indian society through the ages of having a patriarchal society, and may promote a healthier relationship with men who can evenly contact and contribute to dismantling systems of abuse. Male members taking an active part in standing as allies may not decrease or diminish the experiences faced by many female victims. However, it can amplify the efforts collectively carried out by both males and females in eradicating domestic violence from the community, which is a social evil.
EMPOWERING SOLUTIONS: ACTIVE ROLE OF MEN
Stigmatizing members of society and encouraging education and awareness acts like a fundamental ground that helps us make instructive changes in the narratives related to domestic violence. Men as allies foster the concentration of open communication and a culture of respect. Informing men and even women about the present arrangement of domestic violence and its prevalence in the contemporary world would empower them to break the silence. It is vital to educate them that the structure of domestic violence does not only comprise women as victims but also male victims. Fostering an environment of inclusivity and empathy, society would encourage men to raise their voices against the domestic abuse they may have undergone. It is a challenging yet crucial step to take in order to create a safe space to seek justice, regardless of gender, and understand that the victim of abuse can be of any background or gender.
ROLE OF MEN IN INTERVENTION AND PREVENTATIVE PROGRAMS
The metamorphosis in the societal perception of men as allies can be seen through various programs and campaigns. One of the prominent examples is the campaign. “Men can stop rape.” The campaign went viral on social media platforms, encouraging and promoting healthy masculinity while advocating for the prevention of domestic violence. This campaign promoted or challenged traditional stereotypes and promoted the establishment of a communicative and empathetic society that was open for all genders to share and report their experiences of violence openly. Such initiatives are meant to actively challenge or prevent toxic behavior, which is the vital root cause of abusive behavior in domestic violence.
An educational initiative was taken In Australia. The campaign “Man Up” was launched to amplify the awareness amongst the members of society. The campaign promoted men to understand and educate themselves about signs and factors of domestic violence and put control over the root cause of such behavior. This helps identify and control the toxic nature of relationships and behavior patterns. The campaign advocated for self-introspective measures.
The United States of America launched a “Men Against the Violence” campaign. The campaign gained significant importance in the country. The primary aim of establishing this campaign or starting this initiative was to form a safe environment or provide a meaningful platform for male members of society to openly discuss and share their concerns and experiences of abuse of nature or domestic violence faced by them. This campaign actively challenges the harmful notions or norms set up by society. The campaign acted as a catalyst to promote healthy relationships and destroy stereotypes. Such a collaborative network and approach towards domestic violence and combating it helps to break the silence on a pressing issue such as domestic violence.
The Duluth model, which originated in Minnesota back in the 1980s, transformed the response and structure of dealing with domestic violence. The model primarily advocated for accountability. The focus was to shift the blame from the victims to the offenders. Every vital part of the justice system, from the police to the courts, followed the same set of rules to keep the victim safe and safeguard the rights of every individual in the world. The model believes that the Primary goal behind abusive behavior patterns. It recognizes this as based on controlling and dominating someone through this model. It was noted that people Who have undergone and experienced domestic violence and abusive actions should have paramountcy in making the laws and rules. The primary foundation of the model was to make the perpetrator accountable and protect the victim’s interest.
Sweden took a step in establishing influencing policies. It launched a campaign named “HeForShe,” which successfully engaged and involved men as vital stakeholders and advocates for policy change or transformation. By promoting a collaborative nature and
Creating a space of gender, equality, and inclusivity and men who held authoritative stands in society or were stabbed in influential positions contributed to creating an environment where Domestic violence was strongly and stringently discouraged. Sweden had also actively established a comprehensive and holistic legal framework reflecting its commitment towards non-binary and generally neutral domestic violence laws.
In India, the landmark judgment of Vishakha versus the state of Rajasthan in 1997 led to the groundbreaking formation of guidelines and addressing the vital issue of sexual harassment in the workplace. While it was not primarily to address the notions of domestic violence in an Indian setting, this case Acted as a catalyst for recognizing the importance of legal measures and legal framework to ensure a safe environment in addressing sexual harassment-related issues and gender-based violence comprehensively.
In 2008, a campaign named Bell Bajao! It was introduced by an organization called Breakthrough, which urged bystanders to intervene in domestic violence by ringing a bell and asking for a favor. This campaign got global recognition for its commitment to a better society, which did not encourage bystanders but promoted timely active intervention. The campaign was boosted and won the Silver Lion at the Cannes Lions. The UN secretary-general also endorsed this at that time, Ban Ki-Moon as a part of the UNite Champaign, which focused on ending VAW, also known as violence against women. The campaign went global and promoted a nationwide uniform structure to combat and prevent domestic violence since 2009. The organization also initiated and advocated programs in 14 different districts, which promoted social change through engaging in the street, theatre vocal artists, and promoting public discussions. The director of Breakthrough for India, Sonali Khan, stated that the campaigns backed and emphasized engaging people in various vocal or written mediums. Several initiatives were subsequently taken forward, such as asking for it to Change the general mindset regarding sexual harassment.
CONCLUSION
To sum up, everything discussed in this article, the transforming narrative or shift in the notions surrounding the role of men in combating domestic violence signifies an important step to promote inclusivity and a contributive and shared responsibility. Several examples stated above show us that the world together has started a mission to promote gender neutral approach to domestic violence successfully. Successful initiatives have highlighted and sparked debate, which underscores the transformative impact of men in forming and fostering a safer environment to discuss issues of domestic violence by questioning the stereotypical notions and challenging them. In order to promote a healthier relationship and form of masculinity, men can contribute significantly to decreasing the prevalence of domestic violence in society as the government aims to amplify and continue to embrace a more holistic and comprehensive approach. We pave the way for a society where everyone, regardless of gender, plays an integral role in creating change.
REFERENCES
Vishakha and others v State of Rajasthan AIR 1997 SC 3011
This article was originally published on Live Mint. The link for the same is herein https://www.livemint.com/Politics/YBTkmK3gQtnxzfS2ZnhW0O/A-campaign-to-end-domestic-violence.html
This article was originally published on Domestic Abuse intervention programs. The link for the same is herein. https://www.theduluthmodel.org/what-is-the-duluth-model/#:~:text=Since%20the%20early%201980s%2C%20Duluth,together%20to%20end%20domestic%20violence.
This article was originally published on PR Newswire. The link for the same is herein https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/men-can-stop-rape-celebrates-25-years-of-mobilizing-men-to-use-their-strength-to-prevent-gender-based-violence-301460138.html
This article was originally published on UN World Asia and the pacific. The link for the same is herein https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/get-involved/heforshe
This article was originally published on National Library on medicines. The link for the same is herein https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7658679/