Change among the Change Agents? Men’s Experiences of Engaging in Anti-Violence Advocacy as White Ribbon Australia Ambassadors

Abstract

How does men’s participation in the social movement to prevent violence against women change their relationships with other men and with women? How does it affect their understanding and practices of masculinity? This chapter offers a case study of White Ribbon Australia’s Ambassador Program, which involves men as public anti-violence advocates, inviting them to ‘stand up, speak out and act’ to influence other men’s attitudes and behaviours towards women. Drawing on an online survey (n = 296), complemented by in-depth interviews (n = 86), this research examines men’s perceptions of the meaning and significance of their involvement as advocates for the prevention of violence against women and how to improve advocacy outcomes to end men’s violence against women. These male advocates report that they have changed how they relate to other men, to a lesser extent how they relate to women, and that they have greater commitments to promoting gender equality and to reflecting on their roles as men. Moreover, they report that because of their involvement they are engaged as active bystanders and agents of change. The findings of this research could have practical implications for the efforts to improve the engagement of men as agents of change.