Men urged to fight sex assaults

2008-04-06

Men, be quiet no more.

That’s the message behind an awareness campaign in Macomb County this month that aims to get more men involved in preventing sexual abuse. The idea is that men can help shift attitudes about women by speaking out against negative stereotypes and abusive behaviors.

"For too long, it has been mostly women who have been spreading awareness," said Claudine Goeddeke, director of prevention education at Turning Point, the Macomb County-based nonprofit group that is organizing the campaign with a national organization, Men Can Stop Rape.

"Most men are not perpetrators, but they know victims and what they’ve gone through," Goeddeke said. "They have to play a larger role in speaking out."

By Monday, a billboard and banners declaring "My strength is not for hurting" are to be displayed on eastbound I-94 along the border of St. Clair Shores and Clinton Township and at Turning Point’s Second Hand Rose shop in Mt. Clemens.

One of the few men involved with Turning Point is Manny Schalter, who said he felt a need to help survivors after he became a victim of domestic violence.

"I felt that if I helped, more men would speak out," Schalter said. "Right now there’s a branding of what men should be like, and we need to change that."

That’s what prompted Men Can Stop Rape to organize in 1997 in Washington, D.C. The group holds workshops to encourage boys and men to stand up against rape and negative stereotypes of women.

Also planned this month are a film and discussion about people speaking up when they see or hear about an assault. The campaign ends with a rally at the Roseville Recreation Center called Take Back the Night, where victims will speak out about the issue and be joined by supporters for a march down Gratiot.

Last year, Turning Point helped more than 5,100 sexual assault and domestic violence victims with counseling, shelter and forensic testing for assault evidence, Goeddeke said.

How to participate

April 17
What: Watch "No Zebras, No Excuses," a film about sexual aggression, followed by a discussion.
When: 6:30 p.m.
Where: Room 205 at the Macomb Intermediate School District, 44001 Garfield, Clinton Township.



April 24
What: Take Back the Night, a rally and march.
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Meet at Roseville Recreation Center, 18185 Sycamore. The march is along Gratiot.

How to get help
Victims of sexual assault or domestic violence may call Turning Point 24 hours a day at 586-463-6990.


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NEW Website goes Live January 8th, 2008

2008-01-07

Turning Point launches new website on January 8, 2008!!!