White Ribbon Day is on 25November 2022. It’s a day to raise awareness of the mission to end violence against women and girls.
What is White Ribbon?
White Ribbon is a UK charity which engages men and boys to end violence against women and girls by addressing the root causes. They seek to change long-standing and harmful attitudes and systems regarding masculinity which perpetuate gender inequality and violence. One thing they emphasise in this is the need to call out peers and friends if they use harassing, sexist or violent language or behaviour. They ask men and boys to make the White Ribbon promise, which is never to use, excuse or remain silent about men’s violence against women. TRS is making the White Ribbon promise, and you can too on the White Ribbon website.
This year’s theme
This year, White Ribbon Day falls in the same week as the start of the FIFA men’s world cup. The theme this year is centred around this. It is called #TheGoal, and it brings men and boys together to consider how we can make positive changes towards achieving equality and safer environments for women and girls. We can do this by challenging informal rules of ‘how to be a man.’ #TheGoal highlights eleven traits to symbolise eleven players in a football team. Men have identified these as traits to nurture to achieve gender equality. These eleven traits are caring, supportive, ally, empathetic, reflective, principled, hopeful, reliable, gentle, courageous, and resilient.
The Work of White Ribbon
White Ribbon do essential work in environments where male violence against women has historically been an issue, such as in sports and music. For example, over one-third of young women have experienced sexual assault at festivals. So White Ribbon aims to create safer environments within the music industry by embedding a zero-tolerance approach to harassment and assault. Sports clubs also work closely with White Ribbon, using positive role models to impact young men and boys positively. It is vital to change those aspects of the traditional culture of ‘being a man’ associated with violence against women and girls.
Additionally, White Ribbon do educational work in schools. They acknowledge the importance of educating the younger generation and teaching young boys to become allies to their girl peers.
What is TRS doing to support White Ribbon Day?
- We’re making the White Ribbon promise – I promise never to use, excuse or remain silent about men’s violence against women.
- We’ll all be wearing a white ribbon on 25 November
- All TRS teaching materials have a white ribbon with a link to the White Ribbon promise
- We have created a padlet to share with our learners featuring links to articles and websites on positive masculinity and support links for both men and women experiencing violence.
- We’ll be promoting International Men’s Day on 19 November.
White Ribbon have further resources and information on their website, White Ribbon UK.
