Violence against women—it's a men's issue: Jackson Katz at TEDxFiDiWomen

TEDx Talks

11 Feb 201319:06

EducationalLearning

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TLDRThe speaker emphasizes the importance of acknowledging women's leadership in the fight against gender violence, which includes sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. He argues that these issues should be recognized as men's issues, not just women's, as men are often the perpetrators. The speaker discusses the societal tendency to shift focus away from male responsibility, using linguistic examples to illustrate how language can obscure male accountability. He advocates for a paradigm shift where men, particularly those in positions of power, take a proactive role in challenging and preventing abusive behavior. The speaker introduces the 'bystander approach' to prevention, which encourages those not directly involved in abuse to intervene and support victims. He calls for leadership training rather than sensitivity training for those in authority, stressing the need for men to lead by example and create a culture where abusive behavior is unacceptable.

Takeaways

🙌 **Acknowledgment of Women's Leadership**: Recognizing the crucial role women have played in building movements against gender violence and the need for men to honor and thank women for their leadership.
🚫 **Reframing Gender Violence**: Challenging the notion that gender violence is solely a women's issue, arguing that it is primarily a men's issue that affects everyone, including men and boys.
🤔 **Male Accountability**: Encouraging men to question why they may tune out when hearing 'women's issues' and to understand the importance of their active involvement in addressing these problems.
🧍‍♂️ **Bystanders as Agents of Change**: Introducing the bystander approach, which focuses on individuals who are not direct perpetrators or victims, and their potential to challenge and prevent abusive behaviors.
👥 **Interrupting Male Culture**: Emphasizing the need for non-abusive men to challenge abusive peers, starting with interrupting sexist or degrading comments in everyday conversations.
📉 **Status and Behavior**: Highlighting that changing social dynamics so that abusive behaviors lead to a loss of status can significantly reduce violence.
💬 **Breaking the Silence**: Stressing the importance of breaking the silence within male culture about men's violence against women and children.
👮‍♂️ **Leadership Over Sensitivity**: Arguing that what's needed is not sensitivity training for men, but leadership training to equip them with the skills to challenge harmful behaviors and attitudes.
🏛️ **Institutional Responsibility**: Pointing out that the responsibility for addressing gender violence should rest with adult men in positions of power, not just young men.
🤝 **Collaboration for Change**: Calling for a collaborative effort between men and women to work together to bring about the necessary changes and transformations in society.
👨‍👦 **Responsibility to Future Generations**: Underlining the responsibility of the current generation to act for the benefit of future generations, to prevent the perpetuation of gender violence.

Q & A

Why is it important to acknowledge the role of women in the movement against gender violence?
-It is crucial to acknowledge the role of women because they have been the foundational leaders in building movements that address gender violence. Their leadership has been instrumental on personal, professional, political, and intellectual levels, positively affecting not just women and girls but also men and boys.
Why does the speaker argue that gender violence issues are primarily men's issues?
-The speaker argues that gender violence is primarily a men's issue because it is men who are the perpetrators in the majority of these cases. By reframing it as a men's issue, it challenges the notion that it is solely a women's issue and encourages men to take responsibility and become part of the solution.
What is the problem with labeling gender violence as a 'women's issue'?
-Labeling gender violence as a 'women's issue' can lead to men tuning out or ignoring the problem, as they may perceive it as not relevant to them. This mindset allows men to avoid accountability and perpetuates the cycle of violence.
How does the use of passive voice in language contribute to the erasure of the perpetrator in discussions about domestic violence?
-The use of passive voice, as illustrated by the transition from 'John beat Mary' to 'Mary was beaten by John' and finally to 'Mary is a battered woman,' subtly shifts the focus from the perpetrator (John) to the victim (Mary). This linguistic shift can lead to a situation where the perpetrator's role and responsibility are downplayed or ignored.
What is the 'bystander approach' to gender-violence prevention?
-The bystander approach focuses on individuals who are neither perpetrators nor victims but have the potential to intervene in situations where gender violence may occur. It encourages these bystanders to challenge and interrupt abusive behaviors, promote a culture where such behaviors are unacceptable, and support those who may be at risk.
Why is it important for men to challenge other men when they exhibit sexist or abusive behavior?
-It is important for men to challenge other men because it helps to create a social environment where sexist and abusive behaviors are not tolerated. This peer intervention can lead to a loss of status for the perpetrator, thereby discouraging such behaviors and promoting a culture of respect and equality.
How does the speaker suggest changing the socialization of boys and the definitions of manhood?
-The speaker suggests that to change the socialization of boys and redefine manhood, society must ask critical questions about the factors that contribute to abusive behaviors, such as religious beliefs, sports culture, pornography, family structure, and economic conditions. By addressing these underlying issues, society can work towards a more positive definition of manhood.
What role do institutions play in producing abusive men, according to the speaker?
-Institutions play a significant role in producing abusive men by reinforcing and normalizing behaviors and attitudes that contribute to gender violence. The speaker calls for an examination of the roles of religious, sports, and pornography cultures, as well as family structures and economic conditions, in shaping these behaviors.
Why does the speaker emphasize the need for adult men with power to take a stand on issues of gender violence?
-The speaker emphasizes the need for adult men with power to take a stand because they are in positions to influence societal norms and behaviors. Their leadership can drive systemic change and set an example for younger generations, making it a responsibility rather than an option.
What is the significance of the phrase 'In the end, what will hurt the most is not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends' in the context of the speech?
-The phrase underscores the responsibility of individuals, particularly men, to speak up against gender violence. It highlights the harm caused by inaction and the importance of breaking the silence that perpetuates abusive behaviors within male culture.
How does the speaker address the issue of victim-blaming in the context of gender violence?
-The speaker addresses victim-blaming by pointing out the cognitive bias that leads to questioning the choices and behaviors of victims rather than focusing on the actions of the perpetrators. He argues that this bias is a barrier to preventing violence and calls for a shift in focus to the behaviors and choices of the perpetrators.

Outlines

00:00

🙌 Acknowledging Women's Leadership in Gender Violence Prevention

The speaker begins by expressing gratitude towards the organizers and the honor of being part of a program with many accomplished women. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the role of women in building movements against gender violence and criticizes the tendency to overlook men's responsibility in these issues. He argues against the framing of gender violence as a 'women's issue,' suggesting it allows men to disengage and avoid accountability. The speaker also addresses the confusion surrounding the term 'gender' and illustrates how language can shift focus away from men, using the passive voice in sentences as an example.

05:02

🤔 Challenging the Cognitive Structure of Victim Blaming

The speaker discusses the phenomenon of victim-blaming and how our cognitive structures are often programmed to question the choices and actions of victims rather than perpetrators. He points out that this unconscious bias does not contribute to the prevention of violence. Instead, he calls for a shift in questioning to focus on the actions and motivations of the perpetrators, such as understanding why men commit acts of violence and abuse. The speaker also criticizes the societal institutions that contribute to the production of abusive men and calls for a transformative approach to change socialization practices and definitions of manhood.

10:02

👥 The Bystander Approach to Gender-Violence Prevention

The speaker introduces the bystander approach to preventing gender violence, which focuses on individuals who are neither perpetrators nor victims. He defines a bystander as anyone who can intervene in a situation involving abuse and emphasizes the need for men to challenge other men's sexist or abusive behaviors. The speaker argues that men who are not abusive should not remain silent and should use their influence to create a culture where such behaviors are unacceptable. He also discusses the importance of adult men with power taking a stand on these issues, as they have a significant influence on societal norms and expectations.

15:04

💪 Leadership Training Over Sensitivity Training

The speaker argues that the issue of gender violence is not just a matter of sensitivity but of leadership. He criticizes the notion that individuals who make sexist, homophobic, or racist comments merely need sensitivity training. Instead, he asserts that they need leadership training because such comments are indicative of poor leadership. He calls for powerful men and women in society to prioritize issues of gender violence and to lead by example. The speaker emphasizes that caring deeply about the issues is not enough; men must have the courage to challenge each other and stand with women to effect change.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Gender Violence

Gender violence encompasses a range of harmful behaviors that are directed at individuals based on their gender. It includes physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse. In the script, the speaker emphasizes that gender violence, traditionally seen as a 'women's issue,' should be reconceptualized as a men's issue as well since men are often the perpetrators. This shift in perspective invites a broader engagement, particularly from men, to actively participate in addressing and preventing these abuses.

💡Bystander Approach

The bystander approach is a strategy for preventing gender violence by involving individuals who are not directly involved as either perpetrators or victims. Instead, it focuses on the role of witnesses (bystanders) who can intervene in situations to prevent the escalation of violence or discrimination. The script discusses this approach as a transformative shift in prevention strategies, encouraging everyone within a community to take responsibility and act against violence when they witness it.

💡Leadership Training

Leadership training, as opposed to sensitivity training, focuses on equipping leaders with the skills to effectively guide and influence their environments towards positive outcomes. The script criticizes sensitivity training as insufficient for dealing with systemic issues like gender violence and instead promotes leadership training for influential figures, such as military personnel and sports coaches, to lead changes in attitudes and behaviors regarding gender violence.

💡Victim-Blaming

Victim-blaming occurs when the responsibility for harm or abuse is placed on the victim rather than the perpetrator. In the context of the script, victim-blaming is highlighted as a pervasive problem in discussions about domestic and sexual violence. It shifts focus and accountability away from the perpetrator (often male) and scrutinizes the actions, decisions, and behaviors of the victim, perpetuating a cycle of blame that discourages victims from speaking out.

💡Cognitive Structure

Cognitive structure refers to the mental processes and frameworks through which people perceive, interpret, and organize information. The script discusses how societal cognitive structures are biased towards questioning and judging the behaviors of victims (usually women) rather than questioning the actions of perpetrators (usually men). This bias helps maintain male dominance and invisibility in discussions about gender violence.

💡Male Culture

Male culture refers to the behaviors, values, and norms that are traditionally associated with masculinity and practiced among men. The script critiques certain aspects of male culture that are complicit in perpetuating gender violence, such as silence about sexist behaviors or violence among men. The speaker urges men to challenge these norms and actively oppose gender-based violence within their peer groups.

💡Institutional Accountability

Institutional accountability involves holding organizations and their leaders responsible for addressing and preventing issues like gender violence within their domains. The script emphasizes the failure of institutions such as universities and sports organizations to effectively combat gender violence due to a lack of committed leadership, highlighting the need for systemic changes driven by these powerful entities.

💡Complicity

Complicity refers to the involvement in perpetuating an act or omitting to act against it, thereby enabling it to continue. In the script, the concept of complicity is discussed in the context of male silence on issues of gender violence. The speaker argues that this silence, whether in personal, professional, or social settings, acts as tacit approval or acceptance of violent behaviors, thus perpetuating the problem.

💡Paradigm Shift

A paradigm shift in the context of the script refers to a fundamental change in the underlying assumptions and approaches towards gender violence. The speaker advocates for viewing these issues not just as women's issues but as societal issues that require active engagement from men, challenging the traditional belief systems and practices that have allowed gender violence to persist.

💡Sexism

Sexism is discrimination based on a person's sex or gender, typically against women. In the script, sexism is implicated as a pervasive issue that hinders the progress of gender equality and violence prevention. The speaker highlights the challenges faced by women who speak out against gender violence, often being discredited or labeled negatively, which underscores the systemic nature of sexism in silencing voices calling for change.

Highlights

The presenter expresses gratitude for being part of a program with impressive women and thanks the organizers.

Acknowledges the importance of men recognizing their role in gender violence prevention and the influence of women's leadership.

Men often receive credit for work that women have been doing for a long time, emphasizing the need to honor women's leadership.

Challenges the traditional framing of gender violence as 'women's issues', arguing that it is primarily a men's issue.

Discusses how the term 'women's issues' can cause men to disengage and not pay attention, contributing to the problem.

Explains the confusion around the term 'gender' and how it's often incorrectly synonymous with 'women'.

Uses an analogy of race to illustrate the invisibility of the dominant group in discussions of identity.

Demonstrates through sentence structure how language can shift focus away from the perpetrator in domestic violence cases.

Addresses the issue of victim-blaming and its unconscious roots in our cognitive structure.

Advocates for shifting the focus to questions about the perpetrator's actions and societal influences.

Questions the role of various societal institutions in producing abusive men and calls for a deeper understanding of the issue.

Introduces the bystander approach to gender-violence prevention, emphasizing the role of non-perpetrators and non-victims.

Encourages men to challenge sexist behavior among their peers and to create a culture where such behavior is unacceptable.

Quotes Martin Luther King Jr. to emphasize the importance of breaking the silence around men's violence.

Discusses the need for leadership training rather than sensitivity training to address issues of sexism, homophobia, and racism.

Argues that the responsibility for addressing gender violence should fall on adult men with power, not just on young men.

Uses the Penn State case as an example of a failure of men's leadership in protecting children from abuse.

Calls for men to have the moral integrity to challenge each other and stand with women in the fight against gender violence.

Expresses hope for future generations to experience less tragedy and violence through the collective efforts of men and women.

Transcripts

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Violence against women—it's a men's issue: Jackson Katz at TEDxFiDiWomen

Takeaways

Q & A

Why is it important to acknowledge the role of women in the movement against gender violence?

Why does the speaker argue that gender violence issues are primarily men's issues?

What is the problem with labeling gender violence as a 'women's issue'?

How does the use of passive voice in language contribute to the erasure of the perpetrator in discussions about domestic violence?

What is the 'bystander approach' to gender-violence prevention?

Why is it important for men to challenge other men when they exhibit sexist or abusive behavior?

How does the speaker suggest changing the socialization of boys and the definitions of manhood?

What role do institutions play in producing abusive men, according to the speaker?

Why does the speaker emphasize the need for adult men with power to take a stand on issues of gender violence?

What is the significance of the phrase 'In the end, what will hurt the most is not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends' in the context of the speech?

How does the speaker address the issue of victim-blaming in the context of gender violence?