Eleanor Kirk and other early advocates of women's rights knew that if male irresponsibility, coercion, and violence against women and children ceased, the abortion rate would plummet, and nonviolent choice would flourish for all. That is still true today. And something else early women's advocates knew is still true: as important as it is to challenge certain life-destroying, harmful behaviors socialized into many men, it's equally vital to encourage and stand with men who genuinely wish to be or become peacemakers and equal partners with women. The change from power-over to power-with is a difficult one for anyone who dares to make it.
In this spirit the Nonviolent Choice Directory offers a sampling of resources that can help men truly become sexual and reproductive partners. Resources that promote male responsibility are also found throughout this website. See, for example, our resources on Parenting & Childrearing, Finances: Child Support/Child Maintenance and Pregnancy Prevention.
[Global] [Bangladesh, India, & Vietnam] [East & Southern Africa & the Horn of Africa] [Europe] [India] [Namibia] [Pacific Community] [South Africa] [United States]
Global
Amnesty International's Stop Violence Against Women Campaign & Women's Human Rights Network Women all over the world are subjected to gender-based violence--one in three, according to some global studies of both the industrialized & the Two-Thirds worlds. Violence against women is a major human rights abuse that urgently needs more voices of protest. Something else needs voices of protest, from prolife and prochoice alike: Amnesty's recent abandonment of its wise neutrality on the abortion issue. Learn more here from the Irish anti-death penalty activist and longtime Amnesty leader Andrew Eager.
EngenderHealth: Men As Partners. Much-needed initiative in over 15 countries. Started because "around the world, women carry disproportionate responsibility for reproductive health and family size. And while women receive the bulk of reproductive health education, including family planning information, gender dynamics can render women powerless to make decisions. Men often hold decision-making power over matters as basic as sexual relations and when and whether to have a child or even seek health care. But most reproductive health programs focus exclusively on women. EngenderHealth recognizes the importance of partnership between women and men, as well as the crucial need to reach out to men with services and education that enable them to share in the responsibility for reproductive health." Well spoken.
Feminists for Life College Outreach Program. (Some Spanish materials.) Women and men who work to make college campuses safer for pregnant and parenting students, from an organization that emphasizes greater male responsibility as key to reducing abortion and alleviating its root causes. See, for example, one man's personal story, Remembering Thomas: Responsibility, Guilt, and the Child I Never Knew --also in Spanish. Note: To read one prochoice man's journey with issues of male responsibility and awareness in abortion, please see (not affiliated with FFL or its website) When Annie Fell Off the Mountain.
Male Privilege Checklist. By a US man, US-oriented, but meant to inspire parallel reflections by men from other backgrounds.
K-12: Male Responsibility. Catalog of educational videos for youth. From the production company Intermedia.
Male Responsibility for Reproductive Health. (English, Spanish, French.) Globally focused. From Family Health International.
Male Responsibility Towards HIV Free Society: An Awareness Generation Program run by Youth Groups from Red Light Areas of Calcutta. Abstract from the 2002 International AIDS Conference in Barcelona, Spain.
Men Against Violence and Abuse (MAVA). Based in Mumbai, India, "MAVA's Vision is to have a gender-just society--where men and women live in harmony and with self-respect, by providing spaces for mutual growth and well-being. MAVA's Mission is to bring about social change, particularly in traditional, male-dominated attitudes and help stop or prevent violence and abuse of women by working primarily with men." Has page with contact info for some Men's Initiatives Worldwide.
Men Can Stop Rape (English; some Spanish materials.) Great education & activism campaign that enlists men in the prevention of gender-based violence. Geared to younger men, although there is much here of concern and interest to males of all ages. This group recognizes the links not only between a rape culture and sexism, but racism. US-based, but may be useful or adaptable elsewhere.
Men's Initiative, World Association for Breastfeeding Action. Why and how men of all nations can help women and children enjoy the health, emotional, and social benefits of breastfeeding.
Our Religion Teaches Equality and Peace. Some Muslims and non-Muslims believe devoutly that Islam is all about condoning male violence. Here are some perspectives from within Islam that powerfully show how the religion actually calls men to respect women's and children's rights and exercise utmost responsibility. For example, a husband has a duty to sexually gratify his wife.
Pregnancy Prevention: "Male Methods." Part of the Nonviolent Choice Directory.
Pro Life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians. People of all genders and sexual orientations, including gay, bisexual, and transgendered men, who encourage greater social responsibility for the women and children of crisis pregnancies.
The Sage Project, Inc. "SAGE" stands for "Standing Against Global Exploitation," namely the worldwide sexual trafficking of human beings. Dispels the myth that prostitution is a "victimless" crime. Rather it is inextricably bound up with systemic problems of violence against women and children, and it dehumanizes its consumers and their families as well. Founded by Norma Hotaling, a onetime homeless, addicted streetwalker, to compassionately offer "both individual healing and systemic change."
Stand Up Guys: Working to End Violence Against Women. Based in the Rochester, New York, USA area but offers an action step men from anywhere can take. Please sign the Stand Up Guys Pledge to challenge violence against women.
The How and Why of Natural Family Planning. From the Catholic Education Center. While not keen on "artificial" contraception, this article presents the importance of male cooperation and responsibility in the practice of modern fertility awareness/natural family planning methods.
Working With Men. An important focus of End Violence Against Women: Information and Resources, the online global database "designed for researchers, health communication specialists, policy makers, and others."
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Bangladesh, India, & Vietnam:
Promoting Male Responsibility for Gender Equality: Summary Report of Research from Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam and Gender Issues: Promoting Positive Male Role Models. From Work for a Better Bangladesh.
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East & Southern Africa & the Horn of Africa:
Gender-Based Violence Prevention Network: Working With Men. Gathered-up wisdom from an NGO (nongovernmental organization).
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Europe:
European White Ribbon Campaign--Resource Center. (English, Bulgarian, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.) The White Ribbon Campaign started in Canada after a gunman murdered 14 women at the Universite de Montreal engineering school. Urges men to do their part in stopping all violence against women.
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India:
Sexual Health Information: Frequently Asked Questions. (English, Bengali.) From the Calcutta-based SAATHI: Solidarity and Action Against the HIV Infection in India. India is now second only to South Africa in the number of HIV/AIDS cases. As elsewhere, men of all sexual orientations can and must take action to protect the lives and health of the born and unborn.
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Namibia:
Gender Research & Advocacy Project (GRAP). From the Legal Assistance Centre of Namibia. A powerful witness against violence towards women and children, in part through educating men about the issues.
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Pacific Community:
Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Male Responsibility and Reproductive Health. The SPC serves 22 countries and territories in the islands of the Southern Pacific Ocean.
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South Africa:
One Man Can. (English; some resources in Afrikaans, isiXhosa, and isiZulu.) Campaign that "supports men and boys to take action to end domestic and sexual violence and to promote healthy, equitable relationships that men and women can enjoy - passionately, respectfully and fully." Includes materials for faith communities.
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United States:
Male Responsibility Program. Run by the Dayton, Ohio Urban League for male youths ages 11 to 17. The National Urban League, a major African American empowerment organization, and its chapters have pioneered in such programs for young men.
MARS: Male Advocates for Responsible Sexuality. Program in Oregon that offers information and help (including free condoms) for youth and parents alike.
Millions More Movement. (English, some Spanish.) Broad-based African American movement that grew out of the historic 1995 Million Man March in Washington, DC, which focused on male atonement and responsibility.
National Fatherhood Initiative. (English; some Spanish materials.) US nonprofit that assists men in the lifelong task of actively involved, responsible fatherhood--a process that needs to start with conception and continue ever after birth. Okay, sometimes this group bungles cultural diversity or expresses notions about gender roles that, we respectfully submit, merit a thorough critique. But the Initiative's heart is definitely in the right place, a place that for too long was occupied by a cultural void...and why pick on men who seek to be better dads, where there are far more appropriate targets for righteous anger?
National Latino Fatherhood and Family Institute. "Our mission is to build upon Latino cultural strengths and traditions and offer a path for men of all ages to become "Un Hombre Noble, or a Noble Man." A project of Bienvenidos Children's Center in Los Angeles, California.
Sacred Circle: National Resource Center to End Violence Against Native Women. Motto: "Women Are Sacred." A project of Cangleska, Inc., an Oglala Lakota-run agency grounded in Lakota values and culture and devoted to healing and preventing such violence. Sacred Circle insists that "Violence Against Women Is Not Traditional." Offers many resources concerned with male responsibility. On the Pine Ridge Reservation, Cangleska also runs Ki Wicasa Men's Program for men who commit violence against women.
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Copyright Nonviolent Choice Directory 2007-2008. All rights reserved. This page last updated May 11, 2008.
