2. Young Men Against Rape

Founded in 1997, Men Can Stop Rape (MCSR) is a nonprofit organization based out of Washington, DC. The organization has since become a local, national and international initiative. The organization claimed to have the most “comprehensive training available on engaging men in preventing men's violence against women” (http://www.mencanstoprape.org/). Their From Theory to Practice training programs have informed and helped engage thousands of men by giving them the means to help prevent gender-based violence through a number of outlets such as role-playing, group exercises and discussions of theory as well as multi-media presentations. The program is designed to help motivate men to take a more active role in “challenging the attitudes and behaviours that support rape and other forms of men’s violence against women” (http://www.mencanstoprape.org/).

Many men including members of government agencies, US armed forces, law enforcement agencies and universities students have participated in the program. MCSR have since developed high school and university-based Men of Strength (MOST) Clubs and have also launched a “My Strength of Not for Hurting” campaign to gain public awareness.

Amanda Goldrick’s 2002 book Men Who Believe in Feminism addressed some of the criticisms of the Men Can Stop Rape organization – most of them from other men. She said that the majority of criticisms fall into two opposite categories of men who either feel that profeminists are overreacting and guilting men out, or that profeminists are not doing enough. Although many men feel personally accused or even outraged by the pro-feminist men’s movement, they need to understand that we need to comprehend sexual violence as a societal problem and not on an individual level.

MCSR introduced a number of youth development programs to educated young men interested in learning how they can help prevent sexual and dating violence. The 30 minute film “Use Your Strength” (see film trailer below) introduces the program and allows you to sit in on the MOST Club meetings to learn about how young men feel about socially constructed views of masculinity and how they can play a role in creating a world free of violence against women. The program aims at teaching young men to be “strong without being violent” and can be ordered along with a key note speaker.

Trailer for “Use Your Strength”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r478wczldOI

Although MCSR is an excellent initiative, I feel that the training programs should become more accessible and cost friendly for those outside of the university and upper class population. I do not feel that $600 and the suggested three day time commitment is realistic for the everyday young male. With that being said, the informative videos and keynote speakers are great additives to the organization allowing their positive and preventative message to (hopefully) spread across the country and the globe.  

Furthermore, although some people still believe that rape and sexual violence is solely a women’s issue, it is organization like MCSR that work with rape crisis centres and youth to reinforce the notion that sexual violence is indeed a societal problem that needs to be challenged collectively.

Learn more about Men Can Stop Rape by visiting their website: http://www.mencanstoprape.org/