A CALL TO MEN and The New York Women’s Foundation Host National Training Institute to Educate Men on Healthy, Respectful Manhood and Prevent Violence against Women and Girls

The two-day event provided advanced training on engaging men and boys
in domestic violence and sexual assault prevention

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A CALL TO MEN and The New York Women’s Foundation hosted a two-day
National Training Institute in New York on October 14-15, 2015. Held
during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Institute provided
advanced training on engaging men and boys in domestic violence and
sexual assault prevention, and educating them on healthy, respectful
manhood.

“Embracing and promoting a healthy, respectful manhood prevents violence
against women, sexual assault, sexual harassment, bullying and many
other social ills. Men doing this work are making a positive
contribution to their families, their communities and humanity at
large,” said Ted Bunch, co-founder of A CALL TO MEN and co-leader of the
Training Institute.

A CALL TO MEN designs the Institutes to give intimate and in-depth
education on healthy, respectful manhood. Research
by the World Health Organization shows that men and boys who adhere to
rigid, traditional notions of gender roles and masculinity are more
likely to report having used violence against a partner. If men
embrace a healthy, respectful manhood, many social ills – from domestic
violence and sexual assault to bullying and discrimination – would
drastically decrease.

In his opening remarks, Bunch explained: “A CALL TO MEN recognizes that
the underlying causes of violence and discrimination against women are
rooted in the ways women and girls have been traditionally viewed and
treated in our society. Men are socialized to view women as objects, the
property of men, and weak and inferior to men. These ideas are taught to
men and boys and reinforced by society.”

The Institutes explore the history of movement building in the United
States, male socialization and its intersection with violence against
women, the intersections of oppression, the politics of accountability,
trafficking and demand, and community organizing. Attendance is
restricted to facilitate deeper discussion.

“The only word I can use to describe the experience of these last two
days at the A CALL TO MEN Institute is ‘transformative,’” said Nora
Reissig, Director, Family Services Department, New York Housing
Authority. “For real change to happen, we must first start within
ourselves. The group exercises and discussions enabled me to challenge
my own beliefs in order to become more effective in working with
communities of color to end all forms of violence against women. I am
grateful for the opportunity to come together in an open and honest
forum with others to challenge social norms that continue to oppress
women and provide a privileged status to some while marginalizing many.”

“The New York Women’s Foundation is proud to partner with A CALL TO MEN
in building the next generation of leaders working to end gender-based
violence. Since its inception, The Foundation has supported a continuum
of organizations and their leaders working to advance gender equity and
safety for women and girls,” said Ana Oliveira, CEO of The New York
Women’s Foundation. “We recognize the evolving role of men in this
movement and appreciate A CALL TO MEN’s deep work with men of all
backgrounds, joining with their sisters in these efforts. We appreciate
the Institute’s attention to issues of race and class as critical
factors to ensure that every last woman and gender-fluid young person is
respected and valued. All of this work collectively adds up to forward
momentum in reaching that day when all women, girls, and gender-fluid
youth from every community can walk and live in our city, free from
violence to celebrate our full humanity.”

To learn more or to host a Training Institute in your community, contact
Danielle Erwin at danielle@acalltomen.org.

ABOUT A CALL TO MEN

A CALL TO MEN educates men all over the world on healthy, respectful
manhood. Embracing and promoting a healthy, respectful manhood prevents
violence against women, sexual assault and harassment, bullying and many
other social ills. A CALL TO MEN is a violence prevention organization
and respected leader on issues of masculinity, male socialization and
its intersection with violence, and preventing violence against all
women and girls. For more information, visit www.acalltomen.org.
Follow A CALL TO MEN on Facebook and Twitter @acalltomen.

Contacts

A CALL TO MEN
Anna Marie Johnson Teague, 713.858.5423
Vice
President ? Communications
annamarie@acalltomen.org