Engaging Men as Social Justice Allies in Ending Violence Against Women: Evidence for a Social Norms Approach

TLDR

Sexual assault prevention is increasingly focusing on educational interventions that target men’s role, as recent studies reveal that men often misperceive other men’s endorsement of rape‑supportive attitudes. The authors aim to strengthen the case for population‑based social norms interventions to prevent sexual assault. The study shows that men underestimate how much consent matters and how willing most men are to intervene, and that their own adherence to consensual behavior and allyship is shaped by perceived norms, indicating that accurate normative data can catalyze men’s development as allies.

Abstract

The field of sexual assault prevention is shifting attention to educational interventions that address the role of men in ending violence against women. Recent studies document the often-misperceived norms men hold about other men's endorsement of rape-supportive attitudes and behaviors. The authors provide further evidence supporting the design of population-based social norms interventions to prevent sexual assault. Data from this study suggest that men underestimate the importance that most men and women place on consent and willingness of most men to intervene against sexual violence. In addition, men's personal adherence to only consensual activity and their willingness to act as women's allies are strongly influenced by their perceptions of other men's and women's norms. These findings support the proposition that accurate normative data, which counters the misperception of rape-supportive environments, can be a critical part of comprehensive campus efforts to catalyze and support men's development as women's social justice allies in preventing sexual violence against women.