Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Ben Atherton-Zeman" <>]

I had the good fortune to attend the National Conference for Campus Men's
Anti-Sexist Groups in Minnesota this past summer. Patricia Eng, Vice
President of Programs for the Ms. Foundation for Women, gave an inspiring,
articulate keynote address. Ms. Eng encouraged anti-sexist men to "show, not
tell" our support for women's groups by making financial donations to them.

Sitting in the audience, I had an idea - let's make a Facebook Cause group!
I'm writing to you, my friends and colleagues to ask you to join, and to
spread this email so that others will join.  Click on
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/411929/4902102 to sign up for the group.
All genders welcome, but please make a special effort to recruit your male
Facebook friends. 


My challenge is four-fold:

1. Let's find 10,000 men (and boys) to join this Facebook group. So far, we
have over 600 members - I'm guessing half those members are male. 

2. Men: please make a donation of money or time to your local domestic
violence program, rape crisis center, state or national women's
anti-violence group.

3. Men, please write about your donation on this group's Wall, so you can be
a role models for other men and boys. Please name the group you donated to,
why you did so and what kind of donation it was. Feel free to submit photos,
videos and links that help describe your donation. (I'll switch the group's
"official" photo every time we get a cool photo posted.) If the man is not
on Facebook and you know he has done something you want to share, ask him if
you can tell his story to us. The "amount raised" on the side of the group's
home page will not reflect the total amount raised, so let's make these
stories reflect the real truth. 

4. Each month, let's make a targeted donation to one specific women's
anti-violence group. For the rest of February and March, it's the Ms.
Foundation - April will most likely be the National Coalition Against
Domestic Violence (NCADV). Please write to me and suggest women's
anti-violence groups you think would be good for us to help.

I contacted Ms. Eng after the conference - she and others from the Ms.
Foundation helped shape the group. More about the Ms. Foundation:

"The Ms. Foundation for Women, a social justice foundation, delivers
strategic grants, capacity building and leadership development to over 150
grassroots and national advocacy organizations throughout the U.S. Ms.
Foundation support enables groups to create connections across issues,
constituencies and policymaking levels to strengthen social movements and
ignite change on behalf of women, families and communities. Since 1973, the
Foundation has granted more than $50 million to organizations in rural and
urban areas nationwide."

I have just donated $10 to the Ms. Foundation (along with a "tip" and my
thanks to the fine folks at Causes). Please consider donating this or more -
if 100 of us donate $10, it will raise $1000 in needed funds.  So far, we've
raised about a quarter of that, but the largest donation has come from Ms.
Eng herself - come on, guys!  

For the group's Wall postings, let's adhere to the standard rules of
posting: be respectful, no personal attacks, etc. If posts are made that
don't relate to the topic - specifically, posts about male victims of
violence by women, male victims of evil feminism and so forth - they will
also be deleted. Other topics and social justice causes are important and
deserve their own forum - feel free to post on those forums or create one of
your own. I've noticed that it's hard for us men to stay "on topic" when
challenged to direct our attention to our own gender's violence against
women - let's try to stay on topic. 

I will try not to fill your inbox other than one Bulletin per month. Please
post your stories of men's donations to the Wall, and keep recruiting! Thank
you so much.

 

Until the violence stops, Ben.  

 

Ben Atherton-Zeman, Maynard, MA USA
Actor, Comedian, Feminist and Husband
Presenting a One-Man Play: "Voices of Men," Educational Theatre for
Sexual/Domestic Violence Prevention - video excerpts at
http://www.voicesofmen.org

Booking information: 978-897-3619

 

Quote of the Month, February 2010:

"Men who aspire to be allies to women: I want you to show, not tell us about
your desire to be an ally.  Domestic violence programs and rape crisis
centers need your help right now - make a financial contribution to them."
- Pat Eng, Ms. Foundation for Women

 

Hearing Pat's keynote address inspired me to create the Facebook Cause
group: 10,000 Men Supporting Women's Anti-Violence Groups.  Please join if
you are on Facebook at http://apps.facebook.com/causes/411929/4902102.  All
genders welcome, but please make a special effort to recruit your male
Facebook friends.