Rethink Masculinity is a partnership between CASS, ReThink, and DC Rape Crisis Center seeking to address gendered violence by engaging masculine-identifying people in work to promote healthy masculinities. The program aims to build nurturance culture, make connections between gender norms and gendered violence, and create an environment where everyone feels responsible for making our communities safe.
Collectively, we are committed to working with community members to build simple language to describe the impact of messages of masculinities, tools and space for changing behaviors, and relationships for practicing these skills.
The purpose of Rethink Masculinity is to:
- Introduce shared, simple language to define and discuss masculinities
- Identify harmful behaviors and offer alternative behaviors
- Build ongoing relationships with peer accountability
- Provide a supportive place to reflect upon, process and express emotion
- Develop respect for multiple identities and experiences of masculinity
- Improve men’s understanding and practices of consent, emotional labor, workplace discrimination, intervention against gender-based violence, and more.