Involving men
VAWG is not an issue for women alone. Men have a vital part to play as positive role models and advocates for change.
ThisHasToStop recruited male community leaders and equipped them with skills to tackle misogny. These ‘Real Men’ are leading the way in challenging sexist behaviours among men and boys.
Real men’s voices
Successful movements for change bring others on the journey – as supporters and leaders. And tackling VAWG necessitates that men and boys are at the forefront of our activities.
Redbridge, like other areas, has community leaders and influencers, people held in high regard within their networks.
Early on in planning ThisHasToStop, we held a series of workshops and smaller meetings with faith, community and youth leaders to explore misogyny and VAWG from their perspective. These were designed to secure their input, understanding and commitment.
Speaking authentically
One emerging lesson was about enabling people to use their own voices. We found common ground in the desire to tackle VAWG but enabling these leaders to speak authentically, rather than reading from a script of set messages, was key to ensuring their successful buy in. Arguably, it is when people can truly see the issue in the context of their own life experience that they can become a genuine advocate for change.
One emerging lesson was about enabling people to use their own voices. We found common ground in the desire to tackle VAWG but enabling these leaders to speak authentically, rather than reading from a script of set messages, was key to ensuring their successful buy in.’
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Local entrepreneur Taiwo Ademola was a spokesperson for the campaign on TikTok.
Men engaging men
Our series of Real Men Talking was captured in social media materials, workshops and written messages.
Raising the issue with men and boys, they related stories, metaphors and lived experience highlighting how misogyny damages everyone by creating false ideas about gender roles.
Videos touched on issues such as ‘not all men’ and how sexist ‘banter’ underpins a culture of disrespect, sharing insights into the problem, potential ways to address the issues and a challenge to other men to be part of the solution.
Community and youth leader Ifran Shah has served as a committed advocate for ThisHasToStop.
Modelling positive masculinity
We worked with local role models and community leaders who shared our values and were committed to fighting misogyny and harassment. Stephen Addison, pictured here, is an ex-boxer, local celebrity and community leader who runs a gym-based youth project: BoxUp Crime.
Social media outreach
Our TikTok channel featured men talking to men about the need to be more aware of the challenges women face – and, most importantly, to take the issue of violence agains women and girls more seriously. The goal was to recruit allies in the form of men who were willing to challenge other men involved in sexist behaviours.