White Ribbon Day - 25th November *Trigger Warning - DV*
White Ribbon Day is all about raising awareness about violence towards women and girls and promoting allyship.
This years theme is to encourage everybody to speak up for a world where women and girls are safe, equal and respected.
Engaging or turning a blind eye to sexism such as staring, catcalling, and comments might seem harmless, but these can lead to abuse and violence.
The White Ribbon Charity work tirelessly all year to address the route cause of men's violence towards women including harmful attitudes and behaviours. They focus on rigid gender norms and harmful expressions of masculinity that continue to lead to gender inequality and gender-based violence.
Being an ally to women and girls, requires men to take action every day to challenge these attitudes and behaviours in systems and the media.
This will help create a more equal and safer society where women and girls can live free from fear of violence.
Programmes such as Adolescence are helping us all to learn and become more aware of these type of issues.
This program centres on a family who's life is turned upside down after the arrest 13 year Jamie for a very serious crime against a female school mate.
So how can men support this movement in their every day lives?
- Make the White Ribbon Promise which is to never use, excuse or remain silent about menβs violence against women and girls.
- Use and promote gender neutral language and speak out when you see harmful attitudes and behaviours
- Think about the social media youβre consuming. Does this normalise misogyny and sexism? If it does, stop engaging.
- Listen and learn from women and girls own experiences in life. Ask how you can support them.
- Contribute to your community and workplace so spaces are inclusive for everyone.
But itβs also important that itβs safe for you to respond to harmful behaviours. A few tips if you find yourself in this type of situation:
- Try to change the subject
- Donβt feel that you have to laugh along to these type of conversations
- Walk away and donβt engage.
- Get used to saying βthatβs not okβ when you hear sexist jokes from family, friends and colleagues
- Ask questions to understand more such as βWhat do you mean by that?β or βWhat makes you think that?β
- Try to talk to the person away from others, in a safe place.
You can find more about the charity, and today here - White Ribbon Day 2025
Comments
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It felt like for a long time that things were moving in the right direction but it feels like things are getting worse for women.
I saw a stat today that said 70% of boys aged 11-14 have viewed or been shown content online that actively promotes misogyny and other harmful views. Knowing that they're the future men of our country, it's worrying.
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I have complicated feelings about this
From those lists of what an "ally" should do, I do all of them without consciously making an effort to. It doesn't seem like exceptional or revolutionary behaviour to me and the fact that it is shows the sorry state that society is in
With that said, I struggle with identifying as any kind of "ally" (to any social impact group) because as a male abuse victim - not all contributors to my abuse being male - I struggle with the idea that due to my gender I'm grouped more closely with the perpetrator demographic, not the victim demographic
Though, I get why these movements exist because from my experience the majority of men β even men who I know that are perfectly normal or decent people β use unhealthy kinds of languages. Even well-mannered types who don't "mean" it maliciously still enable it by passing it onβ¦ a bit like an unwitting carrier of a virus
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While I do agree this is a problem, and I sympathise with anyone who faces this. I do find these things ironic in that they say for better equality while not equalling every group who suffers abuse.
This problem happens to everyone, and while I appreciate women get it more often and had a tough history. To always single out one particular group, but wanting less sexism and more equality it just doesn't make sense to me.
Why can't we just have day where everyone is included, men, women, children, or anyone who face abuse.
Am I the only one who thinks this?
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You're not alone in your thinking rubin. My neighbour left an abusive relationship a couple of years ago. That was physical,emotional and financial abuse. He'd had 18 years of it. My late partners ex wife was a nightmare. I never knew her but remember the scars on his stomach from where she'd tipped a pan of boiling water over him. That was just one incident of many. I asked him once why he never went to the police,like my neighbour, he didn't think he'd be believed. Domestic violence works both ways
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You're not alone in your thinking rubin. My neighbour left an abusive relationship a couple of years ago after 18 years of it. Best thing he ever did. That was physical,emotional and financial abuse. My late partners ex wife was apparently a nightmare. I never knew her but remember the scars on his stomach from where she'd tipped a pan of boiling water over him. That was just one incident of many. I asked him once why he never went to the police, like my neighbour, he didn't think he'd be believed. Domestic violence works both ways
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I'm actually quite disappointed, but not at all surprised, that a post about awareness of domestic abuse towards women and girls has been turned into a "think of the men too!"
On average a woman is killed every 3 days in the UK by a man. You read that right, every 3 DAYS. In contrast, in the 3 YEARS between April 2020 and March 2023, just 8 men were killed by their current or ex-partner. 8 is still too many of course. And yes, they matter. Yes, it is important. Yes, women can be violent and abusers too. Yes, more awareness is needed. No one is saying they don't matter, but this day was to raise awareness of violence towards women.
P.S. There are charities and awareness days for male violence too. Do we really need to hijack one aimed at women?
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It wasn't aimed at hijacking. more so I always find it ironic that they say they want equality and stop sexism yet single themselves out by only doing 1 group. Surely to truly have equality you must always include everyone.
I by no way want to cause offense, but the logic behind it doesn't make sense to me. Its like being counter-productive.
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Yes. I'm not surprised, either.
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Rubin, we will never achieve equality; it's impossible.
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You're prob right but I live in hope, My mind can't understand why though, I honestly don't understand sexism,racism or any other ism. We are all humans with feelings, regardless of race, gender etc. To me every human has the same right as everyone else, and I have always treated people equally. I don't know but my mind can't comprehend singling someone out, the concept is alien to me.
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Absolutely and I feel the same but we are different and I can't pretend otherwise.
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