It Takes Two: Men can do a LOT
There are many women’s organisations who are working to help women in situations of seomstic violence. However, it is very heartening to know that today, there are several men’s organisations too, which are incessantly working to curb down violence aganst the women in their society. Glocester Men Against Domestic Abuse(GMADA) takes spride in being one of these.
Their message is strong and clear–’Strong Men Don’t Bully.’ Right from the outset, GMADA’s approach towards curbing domestic abuse is to inspire the men to take a stand. As their website prominently says, "For the past 25 years, women have done courageous work running battered womens agencies, rape crisis centers, 24-hour hotlines and safe houses. We men have no idea what it takes to run a shelter at a secret address to protect women and children from death threats and stalkers. And we haven’t been the ones maintaining volunteer hotlines 24-hours a day for tens and thousands of hours. Gloucester’s highest medal–The Mariner’s Medal–is awarded to emn for bravery at sea. There should be a medal for women who do this work too."
Their local battered women’s agency is called HAWC (Help for Abused Women and their Children) which serves 23 cities and towns northeast of Boston and was initally operated only by women. It was only in 1996 when men came forward to help and protect battered women and how! GMADA started to organise a number of activities involving men to spread awareness about domestic violence. "For more than 40 years, the annual Horribles’ Parade held on the 4th of July has been a happy event for children and adults alike. Bands come from as far away as Canada and Pennsylvania, great floats are created, and lots of individuals and small groups get in costume and join in. The Parade draws at least 25,000 spectators along its 2.5 mile course", says the website.
That’s not all. In early 2000, the GMADA came up with the innovative idea of building a giant playhouse at the HAWC’s shelter for abused women. And as the website says, "The playhouse turned out to be a huge hit carrying lots of kids with huge sign on the roof saying—No One Should Ever Live In Fear At Home—and children’s arts on the walls."
Then again, in February 2002, the ‘Strong Men Don’t Bully’ billboard, carrying the names of 485 local men, was installed in Gloucester and was presented as a giant Valnetine Day gift for the women of the city.
Waht’s more, recently they even created a brilliant 11-mintue video called -Breaking Our Silence–which is mainly to spread awareness about domestic abuse within Gloucester. You can buy it online here.
The GMADA has clearly set an example for various other men’s organisations with their vision and working. They hope their work will not only curb down the statistics of domestic abuse in Gloucester itself, but also inspire other organisations to do the same for their city/society– "Our hope is that the GMADA model will spread around the country mainly by way of battered women’s agencies, rape crisis centers and domestic violence roundtables. We men need to rely on the experience and wisdom local women’s agencies have gathered over the past 25 years."
There are various men’s organisations to help and protect women in distress these days. You don’t need to go to far to get involved. Thousands of men have already joined the revolution. The only question is–when will you?
Tagged domestic violence
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