Project: White Ribbon
White Ribbon is the world’s largest movement of men and boys working to end violence against women and girls, promote gender equity, healthy relationships and a new vision of masculinity. Starting in 1991, they asked men to wear white ribbons as a pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls. Since then White Ribbon has spread to over 60 countries around the world.
It starts with you, It stays with him is an online-based social media campaign developed by White Ribbon and Le Centre ontarien de prevention des aggressions to inspire men to promote healthy equal relationships with the boys in their lives. White Ribbon partnered with Community Story Strategies to bring together two groups of men to share their experiences on violence against women, gender equality, and healthy relationships. The first group of men came together from across Toronto in 2011, and connected with each other across a range of cultures, ages, and experiences. The second group of men came together with the support of the Social Services Network in Markham. The men were from the South Asian diaspora, and just finished their stories at the end of 2013. The digital stories are being used as an educational tool in their online campaign. White Ribbon is also creating a curriculum guide for schools and organizations using the stories.
“I think going through the process of making the story has helped me realize one really significant thing that I can do to help promote gender equality, and promote healthy relationships, and that’s to reach out to other men who want to do that. I think often when you think about this issue and you care about this issue, you feel really isolated, you feel like there aren’t a lot of other guys who really care, and it’s easy to feel alone in that. Going through this process with the eight other guys really made it very clear to me–there are at least eight other guys who really care and who want to contribute and make a difference.”
– Tuval Diner, White Ribbon Project Coordinator
“I thank digital stories for allowing me to find that person in myself who can share those details with everyone else. It’s crucial to have those details and say those hard parts so that people can realize that it’s not an easy road everywhere. Learning through those difficult pieces is key to leading a better life.”
– Rolfe, White Ribbon Participant