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Violence Prevention for Men

Violence is a Men's Issue
Get Help for Violence in Your Life
Publications and Organizations

Violence against both men and women affects people of all racial, cultural and economic backgrounds. Acts of violence have terrible and costly results for everyone involved, including families, communities, and society. Violence can take several forms including domestic or intimate partner violence, sexual assault and abuse, dating violence, and elder abuse.

Violence is a Men's Issue

Although more women suffer from acts of violence, violence is a men's issue for many reasons. For instance, although people don't often talk about the fact that men are sexually assaulted, there are many male rape survivors. Male survivors are often disbelieved, accused of being gay, or blamed for their own assault when they report the incident. Many times, they respond, as do many female survivors, by remaining silent and suffering alone. Gun violence, especially homicide, also is a problem that mostly affects young men, especially young, African-American men. And data from 1998 show that males of all ages were over 3 times more likely than females to be murdered. Sadly, even though violent crime rates, including crimes committed with guns, have declined each year since 1993, guns remain the leading cause of death for young African-American males.

Get Help for Violence in Your Life

Violence against anyone in any form is a crime, regardless of who committed the violent act. It is always wrong, whether the abuser is a family member; someone you date; a current or past spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend; an acquaintance; or a stranger. You are not at fault. You did not cause the abuse to occur, and you are not responsible for the violent behavior of someone else. If you or someone you know has been sexually, physically, or emotionally abused, seek help from other family members and friends or community organizations. Reach out for support or counseling. Talk with a health care provider, especially if you have been physically hurt. Learn how to minimize your risk of becoming a victim of sexual assault or sexual abuse before you find yourself in an uncomfortable or threatening situation.

If you're a victim of violence at the hands of someone you know or love or you are recovering from an assault by a stranger, you are not alone.

You also can learn how you can help any young boys in your life to prevent violence. Try to teach them early and often that there is no place for violence in a relationship and that violence of any kind is always wrong. Whether you are a father, coach, teacher, uncle, older brother or mentor, you can make a real difference in a boy's life. Many young men need advice and direction on how to behave towards women and they want to talk to you about it. You can share your experiences and let them know what you've learned.

Click here for the NWHIC specialty section on Violence Against Women. This web page will provide you with information on all types of violence, including specific resources for each type of violence and information on how to get help.

Last Updated: November 2003

The following resources will help you learn more about violence prevention for men:

Publications

1. Coaching Boys into Men (Copyright © FVPF) - This brochure encourages parents, teachers, coaches and other role models to play an active role in teaching boys about violence against women and suggest strategies for how to breach be successful.
   
   
2. Male Survivors of Sexual Assualt (Copyright © MCSR) - This fact sheet explains the incidence of sexual assault on men, and why it is an underreported issue. It explores common questions about perpetrators of male rape, sexuality, how to respond sensitively to male rape survivors and where they can go for help.
   
   
3. Myths About Male Sexual Abuse (Copyright © NOMSV) - This publication dispels common misconceptions about men and boys who are victims of sexual assault or abuse.
   
   
4. Rape as a Men's Issue (Copyright © MCSR) - This publication lists numerous reasons why rape is an issue with which men should concern themselves.
   
   
5. What Men Can Do (Copyright © MCSR) - This publication offers advice for how men can stop rape by minding their language and how they refer to women, communicating actively about violence issues and working in their communities.
   
   
6.   Working With Victims of Gun Violence - This bulletin describes the impact of gun violence on victims, co-victims, and their communities. It identifies key victim issues and needs, develops recommendations for how federal and state crime funds could be used to address the unmet needs of gun violence victims, and identifies promising practices to serve victims of gun violence.
   
   

Organizations

1. Family Violence Prevention Fund
   
   
2. Men Can Stop Rape
   
   
3. Men Stopping Violence
   
   
4. National Center for Victims of Crime
   
   
5. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
   
   
6.   National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS)
   
   
7. National Domestic Violence Hotline
   
   
8. National Organization on Male Sexual Victimization
   
   
9. Partnerships Against Violence Network
   
   

= Indicates Federal Resources

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