Top 10 Reasons for Working with Men and Boys

Many women want men to step up and take a stand against violence.
Most men do not agree with men's violence, yet do nothing to challenge or stop it - these men need to be mobilized to prevent violence.
Some men are already working to prevent violence but lack support; many more would like to get involved but don't know how.
Men commit most of the violence - it is up to them to stop it
Men are not born violent-they become violent as a result of beliefs and norms about what it means to be a man. Work with men and boys can change these beliefs and norms and support men in rejecting violence
Men have the potential to stop violence. Not only can they choose to not perpetrate acts of violence, they can choose to challenge the attitudes and assumptions that support gender-based violence.
Gender-based violence continues despite years of antiviolence work. The missing piece is effective violence prevention work with men. (For statistics on violence in the United States, see Get the Facts.)
Men experience violence too-many are survivors but few get the support they need to heal from their experience.
Men and boys listen to their peers-we need to mobilize men and boys to spread the violence prevention message in their families, workplaces, and communities.
Decision makers and opinion leaders are mostly men-we need to work with them to get the political, financial, and moral support necessary to prevent gender-based violence.