Washington: Understanding the positive aspects of masculinity helps to improve boys’ attitude towards violence against women they are in a relationship with, researchers suggest.
As part of a recent study, a program aimed at reducing violence against women and girls by focusing on positive expressions of masculinity changed the attitudes of middle school boys who may have been prone to harassment and dating violence as they got older.
The findings suggest the pilot program, “Reducing Sexism and Violence Program — Middle School Program (RSVP-MSP),” improved attitudes related to the use of coercion and violence in relationships. It also found that the program, geared towards middle school boys, changed beliefs that violence, including harassment and sexual and dating violence, was
acceptable.
“Most research on sexual and dating violence has focused on high school and college students — but research shows these forms of violence are also prevalent among middle school students,” said Victoria Banyard, lead author, and professor at Rutgers University of New Brunswick’s School of Social Work, USA.
Banyard noted that despite nationwide concerns about the rate of violence among middle school youth, there have been few rigorously evaluated sexual and dating violence prevention initiatives for boys in this age range, particularly initiatives that emphasize the promotion of healthy masculinity.