Session 11: Domestic Violence

1st Global Conference

Friday 6th November – Sunday 8th November 2009
Salzburg, Austria

Transforming Witnesses to Actors: Encouraging Bystander Intervention through Community Education
Alexandria Dick
Center on Violence Against Women and Children; Women’s and Gender Studies, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA

This paper will examine 100+ Men Against Violence, an educational program instituted by the Center on Violence Against Women and Children at Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA. The program is designed to reduce interpersonal violence by targeting the issue as a community problem and diverges from most existing domestic violence prevention programs because of its emphasis on “bystander intervention”. This model was developed by Victoria Banyard and was originally designed for anti-bullying programs with children (Banyard, Plante, & Moynihan, 2004).

As indicated by the program’s title, all program participants were male. They were educated about interpersonal violence and how to become active bystanders. Interviews were conducted with the male participants immediately following the training, and again seven months later to evaluate the long-term efficacy of the program.

The bystander intervention approach differs from other violence prevention programs because of its focus on violence prevention as a community effort—rather than merely focusing on what the victim can do to prevent instances of victimization, or targeting “potential perpetrators” which can alienate the intended audience because of its implication that any in attendance are potential offenders.

This paper will discuss bystander intervention, and, more specifically, how the 100+ Men Against Violence, effectively works to engage community members witnessing the abuse of others. The interviews with the research participants will be analyzed and discussed, which will provide feedback for future programs. The social dynamics of why bullying occurs and how to prevent bullying behavior is implicated in this research, though interpersonal violence is a bullying behavior in and of itself as well.

Community-based programs such as these enhance both individual and collective agency when tackling a societal problem such as interpersonal violence and abuse. In addition, just as bystander intervention was initially used to deter school bullying, the model can be implemented in other contexts where community action is imperative.

Love me best, when I deserve it the least, because that’s when I need it the most
Sue Dominey
Leeds Metropolitan University, United Kingdom

In this paper I want to shine a light on the journey that men who have been violent and bullying in personal relationships (towards women, children or men) embark on when they seek help and support to change. This journey involves forgiveness, apology and authenticity.

Every man I have worked with as a client, has experienced some kind of violence, abuse, bullying and neglect in his growing up. They have all experienced fear, anxiety, sadness, loss, hurt and pain, and above all, shame – one of the most difficult of emotions to ‘stay with’. That is why my work necessitates taking great care not to shame and punish. The long journey violent men make towards authentic apologies for their behaviours, hoping for forgiveness from others and from themselves, involves learning to be empathic and real in their relationships. Helping them to grow in these ways involves giving them the chance to tell their own stories about being bullied and violently abused, in order that they can recover and heal themselves. Confronted by the most horrific violence and abuse, the challenge I face is to remember that it is love, compassion, empathy and understanding that lights the way:

Download Draft Conference Paper (pdf)