How do social structures influence male participation in anti violence against women campaigns?

The United Nations classifies violence against women as a global pandemic that effects up to 70% of women (UN 2009). The sheer extent of violence against women has prompted increased support from governments, NGOs and grassroots support to end violence against women. Increasingly campaigns and strategies are calling for more involvement for boys and men in the campaign to reduce violence against women (flood 2011a). Violence against women campaigns are defined by feminist principles that create contradictions within the social structures of gender and masculinity that are bound to gender inequality (Connell 1995). A focus group of young males served as a qualitative data source for this research, analysed through a critical feminist stance. The use of thematic analysis presented themes of, accountability, heteronormative culture, displaced by gender and educational influence, forming critical analysis through the theory of critical feminism. Key words: Gender, masculinity, social structures, feminism, activismba_psysocunpub1636_ethesesunpu