Leading by example
A local non-profit is turning the tables on a stereotype to attract attention and raise funds for a serious issue in our communities and province wide.
The Northern Society for Domestic Peace, which does an amazing amount of work in communities from Houston to Hazelton, is holding their Mz. Judged event Nov. 13 in Smithers. It’s a fundraising spoof on a beauty pageant theme where the contestants are men from the area dressed as women. Mz. Judged also coincides with the International White Ribbon Campaign, which encourages men to speak out on the issue of violence against women.
Money raised from the event will go towards running men’s programs at NSDP. Program support is a challenge with resources in this sector cut back by the province. If we are looking at ways to reduce violence against women today, and eliminate the behavior in the future, then putting some focus on men is a good place to start.
This was exactly the point the Bulkley Valley Credit Union, Hy-tech Drilling, School District 54 and others made when they supported NSDP to bring renowned speaker and educator Jackson Katz to our area a couple of years ago. Katz describes himself as working in the field of “gender violence prevention education with men and boys.”
I went to a breakfast presentation by Katz at the Hudson’s Bay Lodge. The room was packed and the message was clear: violence against women is also a men’s issue and more men must recognize they need to start doing something about it.
Katz especially focuses on what boys in our culture are taught through the media and by their fathers, about what it means to be a man.
And that is the positive message that can be delivered through presenters like Katz and events like Mz. Judged. We can do something about violence against women in our communities simply by men talking to other males about the issue, and modelling positive behaviour.
Katz has a top 10 list of things men can do to prevent gender violence. I like number 10 the best: “Mentor and teach young boys about how to be men in ways that don’t involve degrading or abusing girls and women. Volunteer to work with gender violence prevention programs, including anti-sexist men’s programs. Lead by example.”