Violence Against Women

Violence Against Women – Change the Conversation; Change the Attitude!

Submitted by: Linda Cunliffe, SI Surrey/Delta

November 25, 2022

The horrific murder of Mahsa Amini has shone a global light on violence against women. Watching the Iranian men’s soccer team stand shoulder-to-shoulder in silence during their national anthem touched my heart. According to Issy Ronald, CNN reporter (November 22), “What began as a clamour for women’s rights has morphed into a movement … giving the team a potentially powerful platform from which to voice its support for the protestors.”

Just one example of men standing up in defiance of gender-based violence. Closer to home, our very own BC Lions football team delivers its “Be More Than a Bystander” program. Be More Than a Bystander is a “ground-breaking initiative between the Ending Violence Association of British Columbia (EVA BC) and the BC Lions, aimed at increasing the understanding regarding the impact of gender-based violence.”

According to their website at https://www.bclions.com/bemorethanabystander/, “The program will break the silence surrounding gender-based violence by providing tools, language and practical ideas about how to be more than a bystander, how to speak up and how to communicate that violence and abuse is not acceptable.”

One of the ground-breaking ways that Be More Than a Bystander delivers gender-based violence messaging is through their presentations to BC high schools. They focus on “the importance of creating a safe environment in the school for young men and women, what it means to be more than a bystander and how students can initiate change.”

The BC Lion’s message is powerful (watch their video on their website). As professional male athletes, they also stand together in defiance of gender-based violence. They lead the way to effect positive change in the language, attitudes, and culture of violence against women. If the old, established mindset of men cannot be changed, perhaps these football “warriors” will inspire new conversations that will reshape the attitudes of our younger men and boys and encourage them to stand up to their peers and say, “it’s not ok to be violent towards women.” The BC Lions are truly part of the solution!