Domestic violence and sexual assault are typically thought of as “women’s issues.” The fight against rape is commonly associated with the “feminist movement.” By focusing on the female victims of sexual violence, male perpetrators are too often disregarded in the discourse on this issue.

Recently, I was pleasantly surprised to see a new campaign against rape with males as the primary audience. While commuting on CyRide, I noticed posters with slogans such as “Our strength is not for hurting” and “Men can stop rape” next to photos of men. This movement toward bringing men into the fight against domestic violence and sexual assault is a crucial step toward ending this type of brutality.

Although I commend the intentions of this new movement, further improvements in the campaign must be made. These posters seemingly encourage men to merely shift from “dominant aggression” against women to “dominant benevolence.” They perpetuate the ideals oVf hegemonic masculinity by assuming that men possess the power in the relationship and remain the dominant sex.

This campaign is singling out men as the only perpetrators, and its message is directed only toward men. Males are in fact disproportionately the ones who commit acts of rape and domestic violence, but that does not mean the advertisements need to preserve this male stereotype.

The posters also assume heterosexuality among couples. They focus on how “he” was okay when “she” said no. I want to see a movement that brings men and women, heterosexual and homosexual, together in the battle against rape and domestic violence.

Men and women should be viewed as equals in this fight, both sexes as potential victims and potential perpetrators. The sexes should not be segregated into different groups regarding this issue because it is one that fully involves both. Therefore, assumptions of heterosexuality and hegemonic masculinity need to be excluded from this campaign.

Some individuals might argue that my attitude toward ending domestic violence and sexual assault is overly idealistic and that the current campaigns are attempting to more effectively reach out to the greater whole by operating within the current social constructions of gender. But merely preaching against rape is not sufficient; the societal structures that sustain it must be challenged in order for greater progress.

Perhaps this changing approach to combating sexual assault by including men is also an opportunity for society to reformulate its constructions of gender and rarefy the idea of dominant masculinity. At the very least, it should cease to perpetuate the gender stereotype that commands men to be the “stronger” sex.

Domestic violence and rape often involve elements of the perpetrator wanting to possess power and control over his or her victim. By eliminating the notion that men need to be superior to others, we would indirectly be helping the cause.

I am glad to see that men are joining the cause to end rape, but this battle can only be fought by men and women coming together as equals. Anything less simply prolongs the culture of dominance that is at the heart of sexual violence.

Jeanny Wang

Senior

Economics and sociology