Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

To correspond with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, The Greater Los Angeles AmeriCorps Alums Chapter is planning a Gender Sensitivity Training event. The purpose of the event is to increase awareness of gender based violence, and promote gender sensitivity training.

Facilitators will utilize curriculum from the American Friends Service Committee’s Help Increase the Peace Project. The training will be hosted at LA Works, another LA based non profit organization focusing on community, service learning, and human rights. The title of the event will be “Myths about Gender Sensitivity: For males in the US involved in women’s rights groups”.

The agenda will include a group discussion of topics around gender issues, including stereotypes, gender differences, and role-play activities, in which males will be encourage to play the "assumed role" of a woman, in order to become more compassionate about what women endure as humans, though they are often treated like second class citizens.Additionally, communication and conflict resolution exercises, followed by a video and discussion of male feminist Ken Booth, will further reinforce the need for men to become aware of gender inequality, and become activists for change.

This pilot project will establish the foundation for a program to be replicated and facilitated to male youth within the United States, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in other areas of Eastern Africa. The focus is on youth being re-integrated into society commonly referred to as ex-rebels, who after participating in gender equality exercises, will have a greater regard for women and themselves.