CARE International and the International Center for Research on Women released “Exploring the Dimensions of Masculinity and Violence,” a report that documents their work through the Western Balkan Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative looking at social constructions of masculinity and how those constructions lead to attitudes and behaviors toward women. For the report, the two groups spoke with and collected information through activities with young men between the ages of 13 and 19 from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Montenegro. The youth identified physical characteristics like strength, personality traits like stubbornness and bravery; they identified these qualities being attributed to a need to protect the women in their lives. Many of the young men believe that violence is a major part of their lives; sexual violence, especially against men, is an area enveloped in silence and shame. An attitude did exist that some women might have provoked the sexual violence against them. Almost all of the young men did not agree with using violence against women. At the same time, they did not consider slapping or hitting as a last resort or as falling within the category of violence against women. Many of the young men did not view the court system and police bringing justice to victims.
Compiled from: Eckman, Anne, et.al., “Exploring the Dimensions of Masculinity and Violence,” Western Balkan Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative, December 2007.