In the field of gender based violence prevention more and more emphasis is being put on preventative efforts through attitude change. This study is the result of a minor field study in Rwanda and analyzes the mechanisms that are present during the process of attitude change. The purpose of this study is to isolate the mechanisms within this process. The study applies feminist theory and process tracing though elite interviewing. The analysis is built on 14 interviews with field officers working for the organization Rwanda Men's Resource Center as instructors on a gender based violence prevention program. It was found that attitude change is more likely when participants feel equal and not threatened, as well as when they were able to draw their own conclusions and be agents of their own ideas. Furthermore, when exposed to new ideas concretely through their personal relationship with a trainer, to their spouses, and through take-home exercises, participants gained new insights. To be successful the program required a long term commitment to the subject at hand. Ultimately, this signals that attitude change is a long and continuous process- of which lasting results can be achieved through continued reinforcement.

A review of the related literature sets the criteria for development and implementation for this violence prevention program. Specifically the project concentrates on needs assessment, project development and implementation, teacher inclusion and in-service, life experiences, long term commitment and incentives. Also included as part of this anti-violence project are teacher surveys, lesson plans, sample schedules, and evaluation forms for needs assessment evaluation.

M.MSc. (Med.), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2009 / Violence is a hidden problem in most communities, yet it is among the leading causes of death and non-fatal injury worldwide. It is an essential public health issue for every country and needs to be addressed as a matter of priority. While rural areas of South Africa are believed to be safer than urban areas, they are not necessarily safe per se. The main objective of this study is to examine the burden of fatal violent injuries on a rural South African community. The violent deaths data used in this report were collected through a verbal autopsy (VA) process during the period 1992 to 2000 in Agincourt, Bushbuckridge, a rural area in the north-eastern part of South Africa with a population of about 69 000 people. Person-years data for the same period, obtained from the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance System (AHDSS), were used for the denominator in the computation of rates. Violence accounted for 5.9% (170/2 859) of deaths from all causes in the Agincourt area between 1992 and 2000. Of the 170 violent deaths, 68.2% were due to assault while the remaining 31.8% were suicides. The proportion of violent deaths, as proportion of deaths from all causes, is highest in the 15–19 year age group (20.9%, compared to 1.0% amongst those under the age of 15 years and 2.0% among those 60 years and older). The small number of victims in each age group results in wide confidence intervals. The violent deaths proportion, as a proportion of deaths from all causes, is higher in males (9%) than in females (2.3%). Violence levels appear to be higher among South Africans than among self-settled former Mozambicans, though the observed difference between these two populations is not statistically significant. However, a statistically significant difference is found between levels of death due to assault among migrants and permanent residents. To address this situation, violence prevention strategies and programmes need to be put in place to reduce violence. However, more research is required in order to identify more risk factors associated with violent behaviour, to study the identified risk factors, and to inform the development of these programmes.

This thesis explores the love/sex relationships of 117 young people (aged 14 to 24) of diverse sexualities from rural and urban Victoria. Drawing significantly on the sociological theory of Pierre Bourdieu and engaging with postmodern feminist and gender theorists, young people’s negotiation of sexual consent is examined. In-depth interview and focus group data depict a world of unwritten and persistent, but not unchangeable, ‘rules’ regarding sex, love and consent. For the young people participating in this research, the negotiation of safe and consensual sex means navigating these multiple and sometimes contradictory meanings. Young people are simultaneously positioned within social structures and in relation to gendered discourse, resulting in varying opportunity for active reflection and communication of what they and a partner might want from a sexual encounter. This thesis argues for reform of policy and educative responses to youth sex and sexual violence, in order to reinforce young people’s ability to actively negotiate safe and consensual sex.

The Prothrow-Stith violence prevention curriculum for high school students was adapted and presented to middle school students. An adaptation in materials, reading level and administration should not adversely effect the outcome of program participation, as the concepts that form the foundation of this curriculum are applicable to all ages. The essential question addressed in this study is as follows: Is the adapted curriculum effective? The evaluation instrument used for both pretests and posttest showed three distinct sections that were composed of general knowledge statements; statements that indicated an attitudinal predisposition toward violence; and statements that indicated a behavioral predisposition toward violence. After factor analysis the general knowledge section showed three grouping factors: factual knowledge, murder knowledge and alcohol knowledge. Factor analysis of the attitude section yielded two factors: a positive attitudinal predisposition toward violence and a negative predisposition toward violence. Seven hypotheses were tested. The analysis showed in a significant difference between the pretest and posttest for all respondents as an increase in factual knowledge; a decrease in negative attitude predisposition toward violence; and, a decrease in behavioral predisposition toward violence. There was a significant difference between the participating schools; there was no significant difference between the ages; and, results for females differed significantly from those for males. The findings imply that the adaptation of the Prothrow-Stith high school violence prevention curriculum is effective with lower grades. Designers of violence prevention, problem solving, peace making, conflict resolution and other prevention programs could look to the results of this evaluation when considering the factors that influence general knowledge, attitude and behavior toward violence. Differences between the sexes indicate an opportunity to tailor interventions and prevention strategies that stress the positive aspects of resolving conflict with peaceful, non-aggressive approaches. More detailed examination of the age differences may yield information about the influences that strengthen the quality of resilience or that indicate shifts in attitude and behavior in younger children.

Violence is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Drawing on the disciplines of Political Science and Public Health the purpose of this study is to understand the conditions that determine political traction for the issue of violence and facilitate the adoption of a strategy of prevention. Using multiple-case study methodology, it draws on data collected from 42 in-depth semi-structured interviews, eight weeks of direct observations and more than 200 pieces of documentary evidence to examine violence prevention policy development in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, Jamaica and the Republic of Lithuania. The Shiffman Public Health Policy Priority Framework is applied to identify the factors that influenced the advancement of violence prevention policy in each case and to draw cross-case comparisons. The employment of this public health specific framework in the field of violence prevention allows the study to reach conclusions as to the utility of this framework for broader public health policy analysis and to proffer some refinements. Further findings suggest that bringing together academics, advocates and policy- makers into networks, focused on a shared concept of violence, gains political traction for the issue of violence and a strategy of prevention. It is found that the conceptualisation of violence and perception of prevention are framed in a case specific historical context and that an examination of this context is necessary to understand the conditions that shape the status of violence prevention policy. The results suggest that the development of violence prevention policy in other countries would be expedited by the coalescing and informed engagement of the violence prevention policy community in the web of institutions, interests and ideas that underpin the public health policy process.

This study examined 11 programs designed to prevent violence in youth intimate relationships with a focus on programs for male youth currently or recently used in Ontario. The BIAS FREE Framework was used to reveal hierarchies and biases in the program materials and to help formulate solutions to the identified problems. Gender, race, class, geographic location and at risk factors were considered. Most programs maintained and denied gender hierarchies by failing to examine differences and using double standards, mainly due to second person and gender neutral language. Programs for mixed-sex audiences were found to be biased in favour of male, urban audiences. Programs for male youth were biased in favour of urban audiences. Most programs examined contained many useful elements. Recommendations include the need for gender inclusive practices, audience-specific intimate violence prevention program content, particularly for male youth, communication across involved sectors and consistency in related definitions and terminology.

This study examined 11 programs designed to prevent violence in youth intimate relationships with a focus on programs for male youth currently or recently used in Ontario. The BIAS FREE Framework was used to reveal hierarchies and biases in the program materials and to help formulate solutions to the identified problems. Gender, race, class, geographic location and at risk factors were considered. Most programs maintained and denied gender hierarchies by failing to examine differences and using double standards, mainly due to second person and gender neutral language. Programs for mixed-sex audiences were found to be biased in favour of male, urban audiences. Programs for male youth were biased in favour of urban audiences. Most programs examined contained many useful elements. Recommendations include the need for gender inclusive practices, audience-specific intimate violence prevention program content, particularly for male youth, communication across involved sectors and consistency in related definitions and terminology.

Research finds that intimate partner violence (IPV) occurs at comparable rates for heterosexuals and sexual minorities; however, few IPV prevention programs exist for sexual minority communities. Most programs are developed on heterosexuals and ignore the unique contexts and dynamics of IPV for sexual minorities. Community capacity IPV prevention programs aim to increase the skills and resources within informal social networks, and they represent a promising approach to IPV prevention for sexual minority communities. The current study explores the informal networks of sexual minorities in order to build knowledge that can inform the future development of community capacity IPV prevention programs for sexual minorities. The goal of the current study was to provide information on three major aspects of sexual minorities’ informal networks: network structure, network function, and the use of networks by sexual minorities experiencing IPV. The study used a mixed method design. The quantitative component included an online survey completed by 367 sexual minorities. The survey asked with whom sexual minorities discuss their intimate relationships, and it asked the response and helpfulness of each member. These data illustrated the structure and function of informal networks. The study also included interviews with seven sexual minority women on their experiences of seeking help for IPV from their social networks. This information addressed the third aspect of informal networks. The quantitative results revealed that sexual minorities turn to on average only three people to discuss relationship issues. Surprisingly, a substantial number were family, and almost half were heterosexual. The qualitative results illustrated that many informal networks members could benefit from receiving education on sexual minority identities and issues, IPV in sexual minority communities, and communication skills. The findings illustrated key aspects of informal networks that can be used to inform future community capacity IPV prevention programs for sexual minorities. Specifically, the quantitative data on network structure and function can be used to inform relevant targets for future programs, and the data from the interviews can inform aspects of program curricula.

This study examines my activist journey in developing a grassroots men's antiviolence and multi-generational mentoring group called the Progressive Masculinities Mentors. I draw upon Athena Mutua's intersectional vision of Progressive Black Masculinities into motion which reimagines traditional black masculinity in ways that move beyond negative social scripts in order for black men to reach their full humanity. Modeled on the activist work of Ella Jo Baker, a community organizer, within the civil rights movement, I advocate principles and practices of grassroots community mentoring as a way to bring about social change. "The Ella Effect" refers to the practices, ideas, and life philosophies of Baker which both inspire and inform my activist work of mentoring young college age men and local boys to become progressive men. Hip Hop music and culture is employed as a pedagogical strategy to engage young black males about problematic issues of black masculinity in an effort to create alternative modes that communicate love, compassion, and hope.