Where men stand: Men's roles in ending violence against women [White Ribbon Prevention Research Series No. 2]

Where do men stand when it comes to violence against women? This report describes how many men use violence against women, what men think about violence against women, and what role men can and do play in reducing and preventing this violence. The report is guided by the fundamental belief that men can play a positive role in preventing men’s violence against women. Indeed, without men’s involvement, efforts to reduce and prevent violence against women will fail. Most men in Australia do not use violence against women, and most believe such violence to be unacceptable. A silent majority of men disapproves of violence, but does little to prevent it. Of most concern, significant numbers of men excuse or justify violence against women. The silence, and encouragement, of male bystanders allows men’s violence against women to continue