Behaviour change campaign calls on men to act when they see harassment towards women
We are today launching a behaviour change campaign in Lincolnshire that focuses on men’s behaviour towards women and improves women’s safety.
The ‘You’re right, that’s wrong’ campaign calls on men to act when they see or hear public place harassment towards women or misogynistic attitudes.
One of the most powerful ways to change someone’s behaviour is through their own friendship groups. So the campaign asks men to consider when a friend’s actions cross the line. Whether it’s catcalling, not leaving a woman alone when she’s said no, or making disrespectful jokes; these behaviours cause real harm. Left unchallenged, the behaviour and situation can escalate in the short term. In the longer term, the behaviour can become progressively worse. The ‘You’re right, that’s wrong’ campaign is a call to action to challenge the behaviour and avoid any escalation.
The Office for Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire, and Lincolnshire Police, have joined forces in their backing of the campaign which was originally launched in Leicestershire last year.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire, Marc Jones, said, “The sexual assaults and harassment of women and girls by men and boys is 100% the responsibility of those men and boys and we must do more to encourage appropriate behaviours in our society. I am fully behind this campaign and will do all that I can to ensure everyone in our community can feel and be safe especially from sexual crimes and unwanted behaviours.”
Lincolnshire Police lead for Violence Against Women and Girls, Detective Superintendent Suzanne Davies, said, “The term ‘violence against women and girls’ indicates physical harm but all violence starts somewhere. Inappropriate actions and attitudes must be challenged at every turn. Catcalling, unwanted attention, sexist jokes, making a woman feel uncomfortable or threatened – these behaviours have no place in our society. We are supporting this campaign because it focuses on equipping young men with the confidence and tools to be an upstander rather than a bystander. ‘You’re right, that’s wrong’ reinforces an understanding of what is unacceptable but also gives practical ways of challenging peers when that line has been crossed.”
It’s time for us to start the conversation, to talk about how women are treated and to encourage young men to challenge a friend if they are overstepping the mark.
The campaign promotes different ways in which this can be done:
- Being Direct – if it’s safe to do so, speak up, tell your mate their behaviour isn’t ok. This can be during or after the situation.
- Getting Help – speak to other friends and decide how to act together. You can also get help and speak to others after the situation, to decide how best to speak to that mate.
- Distraction – do something to change the situation, suggest doing something else or change the conversation.
The key message of the ‘You’re right, that’s wrong’ campaign is that if you notice something that isn’t right, there are things you can do to intervene. By acting, you can help make Lincolnshire a safer place for women.
For more information you can visit the campaign website: https://thatswrong.co.uk/