The MAN culture Story
At the end of 2021, following a number of high profile national cases and tragic events within Plymouth, the topic of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) was made a key priority both nationally and locally. Part of these discussions, rightly centred on seeking the experiences, views and opinions of the women and girls in the city. However, it was identified that half the city’s population was being omitted, the men and boys.
To enable culture change, we need to be open and listen to the views and opinions of the men and boys in the city while challenging behaviours that cause the fear and harm of male violence. Consequently, 12 men from various industries, backgrounds and agencies came together to form an allyship that would listen to men and boys in the city, facilitate the difficult conversations needed to address male culture, and support the safety of women and girls in the city.
We hope to build a growing ‘male allyship network’ who will provide the space to have honest conversations about masculinity and male violence, address cultural issues regarding equality and stand up to harmful behaviours that act as a barrier to everyone being safer in Plymouth.
49%
women indicated that they had experienced a level of harm, abuse and/or inappropriate behaviour whilst at home *
61%
women indicated that they had experienced a level of harm, abuse and/or inappropriate behaviour when out *
1.6 million
women aged between 16 to 74 suffered domestic abuse in England and Whales in 2020*
*VAWG Report - Click Here
Our Approach
We are doing this to raise the awareness of the impact of violence against women and girls (VAWG) to men and boys in Plymouth, to influence culture change, contribute to reducing male violence and make Plymouth a safer place.
By encouraging empathetic dialogue between gender groups to understand and engage the voices and experiences of men and boys in Plymouth while informing and disrupting negative influences to facilitate social change.
Through the development a network of male allies in Plymouth that acknowledge male privilege and bias, will listen non-judgementally and facilitate effective conversations in male-populated environments regarding people's experiences of masculinity and how this may impact other groups.
Our Objectives
- Supporting the voices of women and girls in Plymouth
- Effective engagement and campaigning with relevant agencies
- Evidence gathering via surveys & focus-groups
- Raising awareness through the sharing of relevant lived experiences
- Utilise a media strategy to facilitate reach into relevant parts of the local community
- The employment of education and training to inform and recruit relevant individuals, groups and organisations
- Provision of an annual conference to raise awareness, share experience, attract and recruit members to the network