Mysoginistic violence explained

Claudia Cappiello
WINONAN

  

 

 

 
 
One in four women will be sexually assaulted before they graduate from college, and one in six boys are sexually assaulted by age 18, according to Joe Morse, who visited Winona State University last Thursday, March 20. The majority of these sexual assaults are orchestrated primarily by men.
In a small but engaging discussion called, “Beyond Tough Guise” at Winona State, Morse, a longtime activist against men’s violence towards women, explained the various roles that men can take to stop violence against women.
The discussion was a follow-up to the “Tough Guise: Violence, Media, and the Crisis in Masculinity” documentary, which was shown the week before as part of a series of events in celebration of Women’s History Month put on by the Winona State Women’s and Gender Studies Department.
Morse was born and raised in Winona and has been working for over 30 years to stop violence against women.
The discussion began with Morse asking the men at the discussion a few questions. Do you lock your car doors? Do you look in your backseat before driving anywhere? Do you get apprehensive when someone is walking towards you on a dark street? The general response to these questions was simply a “no.” When the women were asked however, it was a different story.
“There is a huge inequity between men and women,” said Morse. “In how much energy women have to put in to stay safe and get through the day.” Morse believes that while this is a problem for women, it is a problem that men have and must deal with.
When it comes to worrying about safety, Morse believes that men have a privilege to not have to worry about it. By using their energy to stop the violence that other men carry out, it will make a difference.
When looking at the statistics of women who are abused by their partners or other men, it is no wonder women fear for their safety. The federal Violence Against Women Act of 2005 states that “nearly one-third of American women report physical and sexual abuse by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives.”
Morse believes that by educating men, that statistics like that will decline.
However, Morse is worried by Winona State’s response to Quincy Henderson, a starting forward on the Winona State basketball team, being charged with two counts of domestic assault.
“The university has publicly announced its support for the offender, but what about the victim?” said Morse.
It is that kind of mindset that Morse is trying to change. While working with the “Beyond Tough Guise” project, Morse came up with 10 characteristics men and boys can use to improve their attitudes and behaviors.
1. Respect women, girls, other men and other boys
2. Use power appropriately
3. Resolve conflicts through negotiation and non-violence
4. Be honest in all dealings
5. Be an engaged listener
6. Be responsible for yourself
7. Be responsible to family, friends and community
8. Use collaborative leadership
9. Express Feelings and appreciate affection
10. Encourage, maintain and value relationships
“It is our responsibility as men to listen, to be patient, to understand and accept that how she is going to react to me as a man is related to how this other men treated her,” said Morse.

Contact Claudia at CDCappie9866@winona.edu