Spring Break
Activists oppose male violence toward women
NT group aims to redefine masculinity
Betsy Stelzer
Issue date: 9/20/07 Section: LIFE
In the wake of NT student Lorena Sandoval's slaying, in which her boyfriend was charged with murder, campus groups such as Men Against Violence urge male students to join their campaign to end men's violence toward women.
MAV is involved in multiple campaigns and programs with the intention to eliminate male violence against women, according to its Web site.
"People ask why we are called Men Against Violence," said Beaumont senior Derek Kerl, president of MAV. "Since men are committing the overwhelming majority of all violent acts, instead of focusing on women, … you have to find out what's pushing people into the river. We believe that men have to spearhead this effort, or other men just aren't going to pay attention."
MAV specializes in giving presentations on such issues as sexual assault and acquaintance rape, gender-based violence, relationship violence, assertiveness, gender socialization and redefining masculinity, according to the Web site.
"The point of education about our mission is not only to better male relationships with women and with children, but also male relationships with other men," said Houston senior Patrick Partida, co-president of MAV.
Partida believes that it is not men's nature to be violent but that social pressures placed on men can be a catalyst for violence.
"We're looking specifically at the socialization aspect of masculinity," Kerl said. "We don't buy into that paradigm [of nature versus nurture.] Being violent is a choice.… Every action is a choice, and every action also has consequences."
Kerl said men are also taught to suppress their emotions so they will not appear weak.
"Guys have emotions, we just don't talk about them," said Kerl. "Men aren't supposed to show too much love, and that is just ridiculous."
MAV members are encouraged to look deep into their own selves and examine the theme of violence; this self-reflection can aid in ending violence, according to the Web site. "We say that that is more of a healthy action - to express those emotions, to allow yourself to feel instead of trying to save face all the time," Kerl said. "Our campaign is more about education and letting people construct those realizations."
MAV participates in many projects that raise awareness for female victims of male violence. The Silent Witness Project is a huge public display in which more than 1,000 signs representing women who were killed by their male partners are put on display, according to the Web site. Members of MAV also participate in White Ribbon Campaign week, when men wear a white ribbon as a symbol of opposition to men's violence against women, according to the Web site.
Men Against Violence meets at 5 p.m. every Monday in Wooten Hall room 117.
MAV is involved in multiple campaigns and programs with the intention to eliminate male violence against women, according to its Web site.
"People ask why we are called Men Against Violence," said Beaumont senior Derek Kerl, president of MAV. "Since men are committing the overwhelming majority of all violent acts, instead of focusing on women, … you have to find out what's pushing people into the river. We believe that men have to spearhead this effort, or other men just aren't going to pay attention."
MAV specializes in giving presentations on such issues as sexual assault and acquaintance rape, gender-based violence, relationship violence, assertiveness, gender socialization and redefining masculinity, according to the Web site.
"The point of education about our mission is not only to better male relationships with women and with children, but also male relationships with other men," said Houston senior Patrick Partida, co-president of MAV.
Partida believes that it is not men's nature to be violent but that social pressures placed on men can be a catalyst for violence.
"We're looking specifically at the socialization aspect of masculinity," Kerl said. "We don't buy into that paradigm [of nature versus nurture.] Being violent is a choice.… Every action is a choice, and every action also has consequences."
Kerl said men are also taught to suppress their emotions so they will not appear weak.
"Guys have emotions, we just don't talk about them," said Kerl. "Men aren't supposed to show too much love, and that is just ridiculous."
MAV members are encouraged to look deep into their own selves and examine the theme of violence; this self-reflection can aid in ending violence, according to the Web site. "We say that that is more of a healthy action - to express those emotions, to allow yourself to feel instead of trying to save face all the time," Kerl said. "Our campaign is more about education and letting people construct those realizations."
MAV participates in many projects that raise awareness for female victims of male violence. The Silent Witness Project is a huge public display in which more than 1,000 signs representing women who were killed by their male partners are put on display, according to the Web site. Members of MAV also participate in White Ribbon Campaign week, when men wear a white ribbon as a symbol of opposition to men's violence against women, according to the Web site.
Men Against Violence meets at 5 p.m. every Monday in Wooten Hall room 117.
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