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The contradictory possibilities of engaging men and boys in the prevention of men's violence against women in the UK

Burrell, S.R.

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Abstract

Contemporary initiatives to engage men and boys in preventing men's violence against women in the UK are modest but growing in prominence, and attracting increasing interest from policymakers. This article discusses findings from qualitative research in which expert-informant interviews were carried out with activists playing an influential role in the development of such efforts. It explores how, despite its potential, there are a number of policy obstacles facing work with men in the UK, including ongoing neoliberal austerity, the influence of 'gender neutral' conceptions of abuse, and political inertia towards prevention. In addition, the interviews highlighted some of the political contradictions that lie within work which encourages men to question their own power and privilege, and critically evaluate their own practices and those of their peers. These include the need to support rather than supersede the women's movement, simultaneously appealing to and challenging men, bringing about both individual and structural social change, and building pro-feminist engagements without diluting them. The article argues that, if these contradictions are addressed and pro-feminist equilibriums found within them, then work with men has the potential to make an important contribution as part of efforts to prevent men's violence against women in the UK.

Citation

Burrell, S. (2018). The contradictory possibilities of engaging men and boys in the prevention of men's violence against women in the UK. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 2(3), 447-464. https://doi.org/10.1332/239868018x15375304850617

Journal Article Type Article
Online Publication Date Oct 31, 2018
Publication Date Oct 1, 2018
Deposit Date Nov 19, 2018
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Journal of Gender-Based Violence
Print ISSN 2398-6808
Electronic ISSN 2398-6816
Publisher Bristol University Press
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 2
Issue 3
Pages 447-464
DOI https://doi.org/10.1332/239868018x15375304850617
Keywords Engaging men and boys; men and masculinities; men's violence against women; prevention; pro-feminism

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Copyright Statement
This is a post-peer-review pre-copy edited version of an article published in Journal of gender-based violence. The definitive publisher-authenticated version Burrell, S.R. (2018). The contradictory possibilities of engaging men and boys in the prevention of men's violence against women in the UK. Journal of Gender-Based Violence 2(3): 447-464 is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1332/239868018X15375304850617. The post-peer-review pre-copy edited version deposited here should not be cited.




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