White Ribbon Campaign of Vermont Statement of Purpose & Faq

What does it mean to wear a White Ribbon?

Wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge never to commit, condone nor remain silent about violence against women.

What is the Campaign's focus?

The central focus of the White Ribbon Campaign of Vermont is on men’s violence against women.

What does the White Ribbon Campaign do?

We are an educational organization to encourage reflection and discussion that leads to personal and collective action among men.

We distribute information, recruit men, publish a newsletter, and maintain a website. We speak out individually and as an organization on issues of public policy related to domestic and sexual violence. We urge men and boys to wear the ribbon (we have developed a white ribbon button), and we encourage men to talk in schools, in their homes, at workplaces, and places of worship about the problem of violence.

We encourage men to be especially active and vocal in support of local hotlines and shelters during October National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and April National Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

We seek to organize events each year around Father's Day to talk about positive roles for men, about the importance of men being care givers and nurturers.

We encourage local WRCVT groups to work with the media, to write op-ed articles, announce events, and write letters to the editor. The reason is simple: to contribute to the end of violence against women, we must reach men. The media is one way to do so. We also encourage journalists to report on women's programs.

Do your efforts take away from established groups?

We do not intend, in any way, to detract from the ongoing important and indispensable work of hotlines and shelters in the state for battered women and victims of sexual assault, or other groups like SafeSpace who work against violence. In our own outreach and education work we talk about the work of women on these issues and we honor the decades-long pioneering and sustaining work of women to create the networks that currently exist.

In addition to Vermont’s advocacy and support services for victims, we also recognize the work that has gone into providing appropriate services for abusive and controlling men. The men and women at Vermont’s certified batterer intervention programs (BIP’s) work to enhance victim safety, hold men who batter accountable for their abusive choices, and support men to be safe and respectful in relationships by engaging in a process of change. We encourage men and women to learn about their local BIP program, attend a BIP training, and look for other ways to support the work that BIP’s are already doing in the areas of violence prevention and intervention.

We also support the many leadership and education organizations committed to ending men’s violence against women.

Do you believe that all men are bad?

We recognize that most men are not violent. The reality is, however, that in the overwhelming majority of cases of domestic and sexual violence, it is men perpetrating the violence and abuse against women and children. At the root of men’s involvement in the White Ribbon Campaign is the need for honesty about and accountability for this reality.

Working against men’s violence against women is NOT male bashing. We don't think that men are naturally violent and we don't think that men are bad. As we have said, the majority of men are not violent. The problem has been that most men have been silent about this violence. At the same time, we do think that many men have learned to make bad choices by exercising power and control through the use of abusive and violent behavior. Many men have come to believe that violence against a woman, child or another man is an acceptable way to control another person.

The problem does not stop with physical violence. There are forms of emotional violence--from sexist joking, to sexual harassment at work, to other domineering forms of behavior. Silence in the face of these abusive behaviors is not acceptable.

The good news is that more and more men want to make a difference. Caring men are tired of the sexism that hurts the women around them (as well as men).

Do your members represent a diversity of views and opinions?

Yes! WRCVT men hold a diversity of views and opinions on many other issues of the day, but we ask that men leave their partisan, cultural, religious and other differences at the door. Our goal is for all men to get involved in a campaign devoted to ending violence against women. Within such a campaign there is a great diversity of opinion on many important issues, including issues relating to equality or to the moral perspectives of women and men. While these issues are of great importance, we don't want them preventing men from working together to end violence against women. And so, on many things, we agree to hold diverse opinions.

Who can be a member of the White Ribbon Campaign?

Participation and membership in the White Ribbon Campaign of Vermont and its activities is open to any man who is opposed to men's violence against women, who is committed to equality between women and men, and who is committed to examining and challenging violence in his own life. Men who engage in violence against women are not welcome. We warmly welcome men from all walks of life, religions, and political affiliations regardless of age, sexual orientation, race, ethnic group, or physical ability.

What about the participation of men who have been violent in the past?

We believe that violent men can change--otherwise we might as well pack up our bags and forget the whole thing. If a violent man has taken responsibility for his past actions, if he has paid society's price or made amends, has sought treatment, if he doesn't hide the fact that he was once violent, then, normally, we welcome his participation. At the same time, the campaign will not be a smoke-screen for any violent man pretending innocence.

Can women be members? Help with the Campaign?

A woman can be a member of the White Ribbon Campaign, although it is a campaign of men, aimed at men. Wearing a ribbon is a statement of men's opposition to violence against women. We certainly encourage women to tell their partners, their sons, their fathers and other relatives and friends about the White Ribbon Campaign. Women can be great promoters of the men in their lives to join WRCVT and make a difference. We acknowledge and greatly appreciate women’s support while still believing that men must take on the task of building this campaign.

How do you raise funds?

Our organization sells a metal lapel pin with the distinctive red and white White Ribbon Campaign logo. The pins sells for $15. We encourage you to wear it on a jacket, coat or sweater so that people will see it and ask questions about it. Buy several and place them on mulitiple coats and jackets.

What happens with the money you raise?

All funds raised by the White Ribbon Campaign of Vermont support the work done by the 16 affiliated organizations of the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, which includes hotlines and shelters in the state for battered women and victims of sexual assault. We acknowledge the expertise and central role of women in challenging violence against women. We encourage our local groups to have an ongoing dialogue with women's groups in their community. The WRCVT tries to make sure we are of real financial benefit to shelters for abused women, rape crisis centres, and women's advocacy programs and we explicitly encourage men to give generously to these groups individually.

What can men do?

Each man can contribute something – money or time (a little or a lot). Some men can simply talk to one other man and get him to join. Some men can volunteer in the schools. Some men can serve as a mentor for a young man who needs a friend. Some men can attend trainings and learn more. Some men can talk about these issues at work, or in their church. Some men can simply join and read the newsletter to keep informed. Some men can write letters to the editor. Some men can speak up when they hear a sexist remark or see abuse against a woman.

Whatever a man decides he can do, our one major goal remains reducing and ending men’s violence against women.

We also believe that by reaching men and contributing to the reduction of violence against women, we are making a contribution to the overstretched resources of women's support services.