Men Tackling Isolating Gender Violence to Fight against Sexual Harassment

Abstract

Scientific literature has shown that both suffering gender-based violence and taking a stand against it could provoke severe retaliation from bystanders, including negative consequences on health. Together with some women, several men—defined as New Alternative Masculinities—have also contributed to fighting against sexual violence in several contexts, also suffering dramatic consequences, known as Isolating Gender Violence (IGV). This article fills the gap on inquiring how men suffering IGV due to intervening in supporting survivors has affected the men’s health. Six in-depth interviews were conducted with men from different contexts and countries and men of different social profiles. The findings reveal how men’s health is better protected when they build networks of support while overcoming the fear of retaliation in achieving to empower direct survivors. In addition, the results recognize men as crucial actors in the struggle against GBV and overcoming IGV, as women potentially do. This may inspire other men to intervene and break the silence regarding GBV in societies and institutions, as it shows that men and women together are needed to fight against GBV.

Las Nuevas Masculinidades Alternativas Interculturales en la Superación de la Violencia

“…In this way, we can see how coercion to violence is a reality for all men, but each of them can acquire a different position against it and thus perpetuate it or eradicate it, as is the clear example of men who, following the model of new alternative masculinity, take a stand and fight against isolating gender violence, and, especially, sexual violence, one of the most worrisome aspects generated by the traditional dominant masculinities mentioned in previous sections (Nazareno et. al, 2022).…”

Why Don’t Heterosexual New Alternative Masculinities Choose Enchained Women for Either Sporadic or Long-Term Relationships?

“…The present study is based on the Communicative Methodology (Nazareno et al, 2022) aimed at collecting and analyzing data related to how egalitarian men, who follow the NAM's approach, do not choose relationships with women who feel attracted to violent men. This methodology pursues reflexive and communicative environments to establish an egalitarian and intersubjective dialogue (Roca-Campos et al, 2022) that promotes a profound analysis of people's affective and sexual relationships as well as the health effects of these relationships.…”

History of MeToo University movement in Spain

“…In all, this policy and social impact is possible also because of the scientific impact of the studies made by the members of MeToo University and their supporters. Several articles have been published in top-ranked scientific journals of different disciplines analyzing: the quantitative and qualitative dimensions of gender violence in Spanish universities (Valls, Puigvert, Melgar & Garcia-Yeste, 2016), the concept and the name of Isolating Gender Violence (Vidu, Puigvert, Flecha & López de Aguileta, 2021), the IGV as the first reason to do not support victims (Melgar, Geis-Carreras, Flecha & Soler, 2021), the consequences of IGV for the health of supporters (Aubert & Flecha, 2021), the typology of the victims of IGV (Flecha, 2021), the pioneer legislation on IGV (Vidu, Tomás & Flecha, 2021), the media that take position in support of harassers (Madrid, Joanpere, De Botton, Campdepadrós, 2020), the media working with the professional criteria of journalism (Pulido, Villarejo, Vidu, Ramis, & Flecha,2021), the first international conference of IGV (Vidu, Valls, Puigvert, Melgar & Joanpere, 2017), how new alternative masculinities respond to the demands of support of victims (Nazareno, Vidu, Merodio & Valls, 2022), and also concrete cases that happened during the hard lockdown imposed in Spain due to COVID-19 (Puigvert, Vidu, Melgar & Salceda, 2021).…”