We live in a world where not everyone feels safe and respected, especially women. Sexual violence and abuse are significant global health issues. Intimate partner violence continues to be a problem in Canada.
According to Statistics Canada, of the 117,093 victims of police-reported intimate partner violence in 2022, almost 80 per cent were women and girls. More than half of women in the United States have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact. Given these high rates of sexual abuse, it is imperative that we improve upon what we currently know about violence prevention and intervention strategies.
Some have suggested there is a connection between abuse of animals and abuse of women. That might not seem immediately obvious, but the way a person treats animals can be an indication of how they are likely to treat women. Part of the concern revolves around traditional notions of masculinity, which dictate how men are expected to think and act.
Considering the link between traditional masculinity and attitudes toward women and animals could provide valuable insights for developing new prevention and intervention strategies for sexual violence against women. Traditional notions surrounding masculinity are often based on ideas about men being strong, heterosexual and avoiding roles and behaviours seen as feminine. The good news is that these ideas about masculinity are increasingly being challenged and changed.
One example is the American Psychological Association’.
