Men step up to end violence against women with I Can MANifest Change

Posted Feb 9, 2012 By Kristy Wallace

---

EMC news - Ron Couchman admits he didn't always know how to deal with the cycle of violence against women.

"I engaged in binge drinking. I was angry, and short-tempered. I got in fights at bars with other men," he described his life from seven years ago.

He said if he knew about a woman in his life who had been hit by a man, he'd stand up to him - but in the wrong way.

"If it happened to somebody I knew, I'd beat the crap out of the person who did it," Couchman said. "I'm not proud of how I acted, but I want to highlight that this is the way we (men) are expected to be. Beating up someone who committed violence against women would only contribute to the cycle of violence, rather then prevent it."

When Couchman and his partner attended a talk by Michael Kaufman - co-founder of the white ribbon campaign which encourages men to end violence against women - his life changed.

Throughout his time as a student at Carleton University, Couchman took part many efforts to help engage men in ending violence against women. Now, he's heading an initiative by the Hintonburg-based Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women's new project, I Can MANifest Change.

The project was launched at city hall on Friday, Jan. 27 and included remarks from Families of Sisters in Spirit, an organization that draws attention to murdered and abused Aboriginal women and a spoken word performance by Brandon Wint.

The project is a two-year program that aims to help boys and men combat violence against women, and teaches them that rape and sexual assault will not end unless men mobilize for change.

Couchman said the objectives of the project include creating materials that appeal to young men and boys, develop community partnerships with organizations like Scouts Canada and offer workshops.

"Violence Against Women is not a women's issue. Men are also part of that community," said coalition member Bailey Reid.

She said men have family members they want to keep safe, while also being role models for their family's younger generations.

Couchman was commended for his work with the initiative, and he said he would want aspects of the project like the workshops to be accessible for men of all different background.

"I'm a white, heterosexual male, but these workshops can be adapted in different ways: the Jewish community, Aboriginal community," he said. "It's important these projects be adaptable. It should reach everyone from street youth, to religious and non-religious folks."

Nancy Worsfold of Crime Prevention Ottawa, which is funding the program, said I Can MANifest Change fits exactly with what its goals are.

"People think women's equality is done," she said. "We're nearly there, but violence against women remains. I think young boys and men have a difficult task growing up. Traditional masculinity is changing, but it's unclear what's replacing it. We need to find the positive sides of masculinity."

For more information on I Can MANifest Change, email Couchman at men@octevaw-cocvff.ca. More information on the coalition can be found at its website at www.octevaw-cocvff.ca.

kristy.wallace@metroland.com




blog comments powered by Disqus