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White Ribbon Scotland Men working to end violence against women
 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is White Ribbon Scotland (WRS)?
How did WRS get started
What is the goal of White Ribbon Scotland?
Why involve men?
What does it mean to wear a white ribbon?
Does the White Ribbon Campaign exist only during the 16 Days of Action?
Why do you focus on violence against women? What about violence against men?
Does this mean you think that men are bad? Are you anti-men?
What do you mean by violence against women?
What forms of violence against women concern you?
What is gender-based violence?
Are women part of White Ribbon Scotland? Do they wear the ribbon?
What are your relations with women's groups?
How are you funded?
Do you take funding or attention away from women's groups?
Do you provide grants or financial support?
How can I help?
Where should I go for help if I am experiencing domestic violence?

What is White Ribbon Scotland (WRS)?
White Ribbon Scotland is a campaign to involve men in tackling violence against women. It is a joint initiative by a coalition of organisations, individuals and groups of men around Scotland.  [supporters]

WRS is part of the international White Ribbon Campaign which is the largest effort in the world of men working to end violence against women with campaigns in over 55 countries. Other white ribbon campaigns. It is not to be confused with the White Ribbon Alliance www.whiteribbonalliance.org which works on maternal health.

How did WRS get started?
Internationally, the White Ribbon Campaign was created by a few Canadian men in 1991 on the second anniversary of the tragic massacre of fourteen women in Montreal. In just 6 weeks they persuaded 100,000 men across Canada to wear a white ribbon as a symbol of men's opposition to men's violence against women.

A UK White Ribbon Campaign was established in 2004 and WRS was launched in November 2006 at the Scottish Parliament following a “Stop Violence Against Women: Involving Men” conference organised by Amnesty International Scotland and Men’s Health Forum Scotland in 2006. Read the conference peport (downloads a .pdf).

What is the goal of White Ribbon Scotland?
WRS aims to contribute to ending violence against women by engaging men and boys in taking action on the issue. We do this by raising awareness, promoting discussion and providing information and resources to support personal and collective action among men.

Why involve men?
Some men commit violence against women. Yet while most men do not, we all of us live within a society where violence against women is widespread. We are not immune to the damage this does to our communities and we all have wives, sisters, mothers, daughters and female friends we care about and who are themselves at risk of violence. So men are already involved.

Yet efforts to reduce violence against women have largely been left to women themselves. Many men do not recognise our own potential to act and may never have been offered the opportunity to help. This neglects the crucial role that men can play in confronting attitudes in society, challenging the actions of other men and communicating messages in a manner that men will listen to. The White Ribbon Campaign exists to support men in learning about a new, proactive role in challenging violence against women.

What does it mean to wear a white ribbon?
Wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.

Each year, we urge men and boys to wear a ribbon during the 16 Days of Action Against Gender Violence which starts on November 25, the International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women, and ends on December 10th, International Human Rights Day. We also hold events throughout the year where men show their support by wearing a ribbon.

Does the White Ribbon Campaign exist only during the 16 Days of Action?
No, just as men's violence against women is a year-round problem, our work requires a year-round effort. We encourage individuals and groups to organise events, give talks and raise awareness whenever possible.

Around the world local groups use days such as Father's Day and Valentine's Day to raise awareness or organise a local White Ribbon Day at any time of the year.

Why do you focus on violence against women? What about violence against men?

Every act of violence is wrong and everyone, whether male or female, has the right a life free of violence. Statistics show that domestic abuse against men is increasing in Scotland and we do not deny or belittle women’s violence against men or violence in same-sex relationships.

If you are a man experiencing violence, you do not have to put up with it. Help is available. Contact Men’s Advice Line www.mensadviceline.org.uk 0808 801 0327

White Ribbon Scotland focuses on male violence against women because of the massive scale of this problem and because the perpetrators of domestic violence are predominantly men and the victims women. In Scotland in 2007-8, 85% of recorded domestic abuse incidents were male violence against women.

Comparing violence committed by women and by men, the British Crime Survey notes that the result of men's violence is five times as likely to require medical attention. Women are four times as likely as men to fear for their lives, and three and a half times as likely to be murdered by a male spouse than vice versa. More statistics

The experience or threat of violence has a devastating impact on the lives of women everywhere, cutting across boundaries of wealth, race, and culture. According to a study based on 50 surveys from around the world, at least one in three women has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. The very fact that they are women makes them more vulnerable to experiencing violence. 

Violence against women, particularly domestic violence, has historically been hidden, ignored and left off the human rights agenda. WRS wants to change this. We aim to challenge the attitudes about men and women in our society which perpetuate inequalities and allow violence to continue.

Does this mean you think that men are bad? Are you anti-men?
We're not anti-men – we are men, working together as men. We certainly do not think that men are naturally violent or bad. The majority of men are not violent towards women and the point of this campaign is to involve the huge numbers of men in Scotland who reject this violence in taking a stand against it.

All men have roles and responsibilities in ending violence against women. By remaining silent about abuse, from physical violence to emotional abuse such as sexual harassment at work, we are allowing violence to continue. The good news is that more and more men and boys want to make a difference.

What do you mean by violence against women?
Violence against women includes; rape and sexual violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, stalking, commercial sexual exploitation such as prostitution and pornography, crimes and murders committed in the name of ‘honour’, sexual harassment and domestic violence and abuse.
We use the definition in the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women: "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life."

What forms of violence against women concern you?
A major focus is on domestic violence which is violence by a partner or ex-partner and can include physical abuse (assault and physical attacks), sexual abuse (acts which degrade and humiliate women and are perpetrated against their will, including rape) and mental and emotional abuse (such as threats, verbal abuse, racial abuse, withholding money and other types of controlling behaviour such as isolation from family or friends).

We are also concerned about other forms of violence against women such as sexual harassment, stalking, forced marriage or trafficking of women and girls into Scotland.

What is gender-based violence?
Referring to violence against women as ‘gender-based violence’ recognises that one of the fundamental causes of violence against women is the unequal power relations between men and women, which lead to discrimination. Gender based violence against women is violence directed against a woman because she is a woman or violence that affects women disproportionately. Watch a video which explains this further.

Are women part of White Ribbon Scotland? Do they wear the ribbon?
WRS is primarily a campaign of men, aimed at boys and men, but women are also involved in the campaign and we welcome women's support. The campaign also works in partnership with various women’s organisations.

Although the ribbon started as a symbol of men’s opposition to violence against women, in many countries both males and females wear the ribbon. For men, it is a personal pledge, for women a show of support that men and boys have a role and responsibility in ending violence against women.

What are your relations with women's groups?
WRS supports the fantastic work of the women's sector in Scotland. We encourage anyone wanting to take part in White Ribbon Scotland to work with their local women's organisations.

We want to learn from their expertise and contribute to their efforts by involving men in what has all too often been considered 'a women's issue'.

How are you funded?
We are a grassroots campaign that relies on the efforts of volunteers. We currently operate on a very modest budget and we will apply for funding for specific projects from grants and trusts.     The Scottish Government supported us to hold a conference on involving men in tackling violence against women in 2006.

Do you take funding or attention away from women's groups?
No. We want to support women's programs by encouraging men to give generously to them. We believe that by helping to reduce violence against women, we are helping women's services. The campaign is supported by women's organisations because they see the value of involving men.

Awareness raising work like ours is crucial because as more men see this as an important issue, funding will increase to women’s organisations.

Do you provide grants or financial support?
Unfortunately White Ribbon Scotland is not in the position to provide funding or grants.

How can I help?
We need you to work with others in your community to educate and inspire other men to campaign against violence against women. Explore the resources on this website for ideas and get in touch with us with any questions.

Where should I go for help if I am experiencing domestic violence?
Whether you are a woman or a man facing violence, there is support available to you. Call the Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline free on 0800 027 1234 in absolute confidence, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for help and information. [other sources of support]