'A Call to Men' heard at Jorgensen

Metanoia speaker Tony Porter took a different approach to addressing violence against women in a lecture entitled "A Call to Men," which focused on men's roles in ending violence against women last night at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts.

Porter's interactive lecture, largely centered on audience participation, created a conversation that "challenged many of the norms that define manhood."

The lecture stressed prevention of sexual and domestic violence, rather than following only on the response to it.

"It is really clear that we need to get men on board here," said Porter, as he noted that rates of domestic violence are not decreasing.

Porter challenged the men in the audience to consider how and why violence against women happens, and asked "how a small number of 'bad' guys do what they do in the presence of the rest of the 'good' guys."

Several exercises, which relied on the participation of audience members, revealed many of the attitudes and beliefs held by men and women that contribute to domestic violence.

Porter asked male audience members how men are taught to view women and responses included "object," "trophy," and "accessory."

The "man box," which Porter defines as how men are socialized to view manhood, and in turn, women, is what he says is "killing men."

This "man box" suggests that men are to act as aggressive, dominant individuals who don't ask for or need help, and who consider women to be subordinate objects.

"The reality is is that we need help; a lot of help a lot of the time," said Porter.

Porter suggested that the behavior of all men who act according to the "man box" benefits the smaller group of perpetrating men in reinforcing the beliefs and ideas that support violence against women.

Men in the audience were asked to consider whether they were part of the problem or the solution, and how their attitudes and behavior, though not necessarily violent, may contribute to violence against women.

"We may not perpetrate [the violence], but we aren't absent from the foundation of it," said Porter.

Men's violence against women is the leading cause of injury to women, with around 35 percent of emergency room visits being a result of domestic violence. It is statistics like these, according to Porter, that call for a change.

Porter ended the lecture with another interactive exercise that asked audience members to reform their current definition of manhood to one that includes attitudes to help eliminate domestic violence.

Porter is an educator and activist in the social justice arena who travels as a syndicated lecturer. He has spoken at distinguished institutions including the United States Naval Academy, and has brought his teachings to many organizations such as the NBA and the NFL.