(Reducing Sexism and Violence Program)
Youth Led Workshop
Presented by the Maine Boys to Men Youth Advisory Council
Saturday April 28th
Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
This event is open to any High School student from Maine
Join us for a fast paced, fun and interactive day long workshop facilitated by The Maine Boys to Men Youth Advisory Council. Through peer led activites students will engage in and discuss important topics while discovering new information about themselves and their peers. This is a unique opportunity to explore the ways societal pressures or narrow definitions of gender can lead to a culture of self-harm, disrespect, harassment and violence. Participants will leave better prepared to navigate these pressures through adolescence and with knowledge that they can use to help make their school communities safer and more inclusive. The RSVP High School workshop empowers students to play a central role in confronting sexist attitudes and behaviors that are limiting and harmful to boys, girls, men and women.
"This is an opportunity to talk about very important topics that don't get talked about or addressed anywhere else." -RSVP High School Participant
Topics covered in this workshop include: Gender as a social construct, gender pressures, gender stereotypes, healthy communication, relationships, consent, technology respect, sexual harassment and assault, up-stander intervention, leadership and action.
The Mission of Boys to Men is to reduce interpersonal violence, specifically male violence against women and girls, and support the development of emotionally fluent, civically-engaged boys.
Boys to Men addresses the development of boys in the context of their relationships, socialization process, and cultural environments. Boys are bombarded by narrow, confusing, and often destructive messages about masculinity beginning at very early ages. We believe it is not the boys, but rather the culture in which they live and grow, that is in need of repair. While holding boys and men to a higher degree of individual accountability, we also put an appropriate level of focus on the environment—families, schools, community organizations, and peer culture—as the key agents of change in the lives of boys.
Multiple 3rd party evaluations, including a 2-year study by the Maine Center for Public Health, have produced evidence that RSVP is effective at changing attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs about sexism, sexual harassment, and gender-based violence. Evaluations have also indicated a greater level willingness play an active role as bystanders in situations that can lead to violence.