When men say 'No' using the power of social media
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To rally more than 1.3 million web users, you need four simple ingredients. A video blog, a website, a blog, and a team of 22 spirited young people. And just one message urging everyone to “stand up, and speak out about violence against women.” Over a period of one year, the Must Bol social media campaign, led by Commutiny and supported by UN Women, has encouraged young men to examine violence in their lives and question social norms.
22 young people from Delhi led the campaign using online and offline activities to engage young people to prevent violence. A dedicated website that started in March 2011, offers 3 key interactive platforms:
- A videoblog to exhibit films created by volunteer campaigners, that has had 30,000 unique visitors
- A shoutbox for young people to ask questions on gender based violence anonymously
- A team blog for posting campaign experiences and starting discussions.
“Women need to admit the violence meted out towards them, and fight back,” says Kuber Sharma, a coordinator. “We believe that a man should be able to proudly say that he is a homemaker. Societal pressures on men often force them to be an earning and independent entity,” he adds.
Manish Sharma, a theatre actor, is one of the campaigners and feels strongly for gender equality. “I consider it a duty of each human being to respect the dignity of every individual and their gender, and to make society a freer place to live in, where there is love and respect, where people are not afraid of each other and regret what nature has made them,” he says.
The MUST BOL page on Facebook, ‘LET’S TALK’, has over 10,000 members and one million visitors. A fun, friendly and positive way to speak about gender based violence, it has hosted many contests. In March 2011, Must Bol hosted an online Photography Contest inviting young people to articulate their interpretation of ‘Masculinities’. Over 10 days, 44 photographers submitted 170 photographs, of which 140 were posted on ‘Let’s Talk’. The winners were decided on the basis of 700 votes from Facebook members.
Reclaiming the night
A number of outdoor events were also organized to take the message to young people. Besides poster competitions across Delhi University, the Must Bol team organized the ‘Reclaiming the Night’ Event, in collaboration with Saathi to oppose crimes against women in Delhi.
A Blogathon with a difference
16 days. 136 Blogs. One objective: Speak up loudly about violence against women. A ‘Men Say No’ Blogathon, organized by the Commutiny and UN Women, from November 25 to December 10, 2011 allowed bloggers and readers to dive into the many facets of violence against women, men’s reaction to it and everything in between.
The Blogathon brought together as many as 100 bloggers and reached out to over a million people on various social media & online spaces. 25 entries for an online short film contest on gender-based violence were also received.
“Blogging is an elitist activity and not many people who are victims of violence have access to such a forum. This will just build a community of people who speak a common language,” says Sukanya Sen, a film-maker and an active blogger.
There were many others like Sukanya who expressed their views on the ‘Blogathon’ with great enthusiasm. “Men are the perpetrators, or the victims of this gender discrimination. They need to realize this and try and put a stop to it. Say no when domestic, physical, or emotional violence is happening around you,” says Pramada Menon, a queer feminist activist.
Organized to mark the 16 days of activism against violence, the online event had a host blogger linking each entry on his blog. “We believe that Men can play an active role in eradicating violence against women. With this Blogathon, we want to collect ideas, thoughts and experiences of diverse men and women on the importance of men’s role and the urgency of the issue,” says Kuber Sharma, who organized the Blogathon.
While Abhay Chawla related an incident of brutal violence on a woman, in which his delayed intervention proved futile, others like Atanu Dey reflected on social norms due to which women experience violence.
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Read more about the work of UN Women to End Violence Against Women