A nasty, woman-hating group of men has created a fake White Ribbon website. Their goal is to spread myths about rape and violence against women, confuse people about the very real problem of men’s violence against women, and con people into giving them money. I’m very proud to reprint the response by the Canadian White Ribbon Campaign. And I’d like to encourage you to use this opportunity to make a donation to the real White Ribbon efforts in your country. Together we can create a future with no violence against women.
Today, White Ribbon became aware that a “so-called” men’s rights group has launched a copycat campaign articulating their archaic views and denials about the realities of gender-based violence.
Their vile sentiments – which include disparaging comments about women’s shelters and victim blaming survivors of rape – are completely incongruent with our values at White Ribbon.
Their misguided attempts to discredit others only make clear the extent to which they see the success of our equality-driven, evidence-based, ally-focussed work on gender justice as a real threat to their ill-informed, isolated views on this issue. This latest example is clear evidence of their insincerity and lack of commitment to developing compassionate solutions for the issues they claim to care about. It also showcases their real focus: attacking, harassing and directing anger towards others.
White Ribbon will continue to stand beside the thousands of women’s organizations around the world who see feminism as an all-encompassing effort to realize equality.
We will continue to support the efforts of men and boys in over 70 countries around the world who wear the White Ribbon as a pledge to never commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women and girls.
We will remain committed to the advancement of gender equality, and the dismantling of patriarchy, which is the real cause of so much pain for women and men around the world.
Allies and supporters: do not to be fooled by this copycat campaign. We are exploring all of our options, but we will not be engaging with this group in a public screaming match. They can remain a shrill minority. We will continue to engage with the vast majority of men who believe in gender justice, and want to be part of the solution. And we will do it with the same determination, conviction and passion we have shown for the past 20 years. We appreciate all the support and kind words we have heard from women and men across the globe. Please know that goes a long way, and that we will carry on with our effort to make the world a better, safer, more equitable place for all women and girls, men and boys.
Until the violence stops,
Todd Minerson, Executive Director
White Ribbon
October 23 2014
“patriarchy, which is the real cause of so much pain for women and men around the world.
We will continue to engage with the vast majority of men who believe in gender justice, and want to be part of the solution.”
Thank you so much for this. I’m a woman and I’m against patriarchy and I’m glad that many men are, too. I could say that I’m a feminist but I do care about men and their problems.