Author, and film maker, Jackson Katz, recently made some appearances in Denton County. His most famous work, a film called “Tough Guise,” explores the media’s influence on men who posture as ‘tough’ to hide socially unacceptable feelings of fear and insecurity.

Katz spoke at length about the problems created by labeling sexual assault and domestic violence as “women’s issues.” In reality, sexual and domestic violence occur as the result of male behavior. Over 99% of rapes are committed by men, as are the majority of domestic violence assaults. So why are these crimes termed “women’s issues?”

And why is that a problem for men?

Labeling violent crimes against women as women’s issues is a mistake that ensures the continuation of gender violence.

Confusion is generated when we say “women’s issues” instead of “men’s violence.” The line between victim and perpetrator is blurred. Most men are not rapists, but most men are not interested in the topic of rape, either. Newspapers use passive language to further disconnect men from the violence experienced by women, with headlines that declare “Two Women Assaulted Near University,” and “Domestic Violence Victim Killed.” There is no mention of the men who perpetrated these crimes, thus the focus is on women and the gendered nature of the violence is lost. Most school and university violence prevention models are actually risk reduction programs aimed at girls and women, not boys and men. We teach our daughters the warning signs of abuse in dating relationships, to only go out with groups, and never leave a drink unattended. But what do we teach our sons about men’s violence against women? Nothing. When violence against women is a “women’s issue” we don’t have to do anything about it. As a result, men rarely challenge or confront other men on their sexism.

Katz notes that men have a personal stake in ending violence against women. The victims of this violence are our partners, our friends, our sisters, and our daughters. Eighteen million fathers have daughters who were raped by a man. Our partners may trust us less because of previous abuse at the hands of another man, making intimacy in our relationships difficult. Men’s violence against women diminishes our lives, too.

Finally, referring to these crimes as “women’s issues” allows men to avoid responsibility for the abuse perpetrated by other men; it allows us to not pay attention. As men, violence against women and children is our issue, and it needs to be labeled as such.

By calling men’s violence what it is, we take a first step towards stopping that violence. As an old friend, Claude LaBrosse, once said, “Violence against women will end when men decide it is time for it to end.

Resources for Men:
Denton County Friends of the Family 940-387-5131
Jackson Katz: www.jacksonkatz.com
The Men’s Resource Center for Change: http://www.mrcforchange.org/

Mark Sandel is an Associate Professor of Social Work in the College of Arts and Sciences at TWU. He welcomes comments or suggestions for future columns at msandel@twu.edu