Public Report: Case Study of White Ribbon Australia's Ambassador Program: Men as Allies to Prevent Men's Violence against Women

Through in-depth interviews and an online survey, this project investigated how and why men become part of the White Ribbon Australia’s Ambassador Program; how they enact their role as an ally to end men's violence against women, the challenges they encounter, and how they overcome them. The project has two primary aims. First, to provide an independent assessment of the Ambassador Program through analysis of Ambassador perceptions of White Ribbon Australia's successes and areas for improvement, and to create an Ambassador demographic profile. Second, due to the scale of the research and the position of White Ribbon Australia as a leader in engaging men to prevent men's violence against women, the case study aims to inform at a broader social level. It seeks to provide insight into Ambassadors' motivations and experiences which may assist other organisations in Australia and around the world to similarly engage men in preventing men's violence against women.


Demographics
• Ambassadors surveyed reported a mean length of involvement of 4 years, with a median length of involvement of 3.6 years.
• Ambassadors are just as likely to come from regional and remote areas (excluding very remote areas) as the broader male population in Australia but are slightly less likely to come from city areas.
• The mean age of Ambassadors is 50.6 years of age. This is significantly older than the mean age of adult males in Australia (46.1 years), as well as the mean age of adult male volunteers (47.8 years).
• Ambassadors identified overwhelmingly as heterosexual and were significantly more likely than males in Australia to be married and have children.
• There is a significant, distinct lack of religiosity amongst the Ambassadors compared to the broader male population in Australia.
• Overall, Ambassadors surveyed identified across the 'left-right' political spectrum, although more identified towards the political 'left', and none identified in the furthest 'right' category (see Figure 1).  • While Ambassadors reported comparable levels of employment to the broader male population, they do have significantly higher levels of formal education, and they are significantly more likely to be in higher income brackets relative to full-time adult male workers (see Figure 2). • Ambassadors indicated they primarily became part of White Ribbon Australia 'to make a difference in their community' (75.7%), due to 'moral obligation' (69.6%), because they 'heard stories related to men's violence against women' (53.7%), and because they had 'learned statistics related to men's violence against women' (43.2%) (see Appendix: Figure A1).
• From the interviews, the role of fatherhood as a catalyst for initial involvement is apparent and provides opportunities for meaning making.

Experiences, both Positive and Challenging, Commonly Encountered by White Ribbon Australia Ambassadors
• The positive experiences of Ambassadorship are an increased knowledge of men's violence against women, specifically (75.0%) and violence against women in general (72.0%). Other positive experiences include helping to 'reduce or prevent men's violence against women' (56.1%); 'increased confidence to stand up for what I believe in' (55.1%); a 'sense of purpose' (50.7%); and a 'sense of personal fulfillment' (49.7%) (see Appendix: Figure A2).
• From the interviews, Ambassadors want to do more -not less -and often lament the lack of opportunities out side of White Ribbon Day and White Ribbon Night.
• Most Ambassadors reported feeling underutilised by White Ribbon Australia not only in general but specific to their unique skill sets. While this finding is apparent from the survey, this was repeatedly found in the interviews. Law Enforcement Officers, Social Workers, and Counsellors indicated they had skills and the desire to serve, but no outlet.
• These challenges can be summarised as a lack of proper utilisation, isolation from other Ambassadors, and a lack of confidence to make a change.

Changes in Relationships with Women
• Over one-third of Ambassadors surveyed (39.5%) report that being an Ambassador had changed how they relate to women (see Figure 3).
• Of the Ambassadors who indicated that they had changed how they relate to women, 86.3% are 'more conscious' of what they say and how they say it, while 84.6% are 'more conscious of promoting equality and equity' in both their personal and professional lives (see Appendix: Figure A4).
• Of the Ambassadors who report they had not changed how theyrelate to women, 73.7% provided extended responses indicating they already respected women or believed in equality and equity.

Changes in Relationships with other Men
• Most Ambassadors surveyed (68.6%) report that their involvement with White Ribbon Australia has changed how they relate to men (see Figure 4).
• Of the Ambassadors who indicated they had changed how they relate to men, nine tenths (89.2%) were 'more likely to challenge sexist behaviour toward women' (see Appendix: Figure A5).
• Of the Ambassadors that reported they had not

Changes in the Meaning of being a Man
• When asked whether being involved with White Ribbon Australia had changed their view of what it means to be a man, three-quarters (74.7%) reported they are 'more aware of the need for positive male role models'.
• Half placed more 'emphasis on promoting gender equality and equity' in their personal life (49.7%) and professional life (49.0%). Finally, almost half of the Ambassadors surveyed 'question the notion of "boys will be boys"' (47.6%) and have increased their 'ability to self-reflect' as men (45.9%) (see Appendix: Figure A6).
6. White Ribbon Australia Successes and Areas for Improvement, and Ways to Increase or Sustain Ambassador Involvement Public Report: Case Study of White Ribbon Australia's Ambassador Program Figure A4: How has being an Ambassador changed how you relate to women? -% of total respondents who indicated a change (multiple response item)

100%
More conscious of what I say and how I say it -86.3% More conscious of promoting gender equality and equity in my professional life -84.6% More conscious of promoting gender equality and equity in my personal life -84.6% More empathetic to women -48.7% Listen more to what women have to say -41.0% Treat women with more respect -36.8% Other (please specify) -8.5% Have a greater understanding of violence against women -2.6% Figure A5: How has being an Ambassador changed how you relate to other men? -% of total respondents who indicated a change (multiple response item)

100%
I am more likely to challenge sexist behaviour toward women -89.2% I have lost male friends because of my position on violence -8.9% I am more confident in my ability to speak about mens violence against women with others -3.4% Other (please specify) -10.8% I am more confident in my ability to speak about violence against women with others -3.4% More aware of sexist attitudes/behaviour -2.0% Gained friends or grown closer to my friends -1.0% Themes identified from "Other" responses It has changed what I view to be a "good" man -20.6% No change -13.9% Other (please specify) -8.8% I more aware of the complex nature of violence against women and men relating to women -2.0% White Ribbon Australia has put me further down the road I was already on -1.7% I know that men can be part of preventing violence against women -0.7% I am more aware of the need for positive male role models -74.7% More emphasis on promoting gender equality and equity in my personal life -49.7% More emphasis on promoting gender equality and equity in my professional life -49.0% Greater understanding of how personal attitude/behaviour impacts others -48.3% I question the notion of "boys will be boys" -47.6% I have an increased ability to self-reflect on my role as a man -45.9%

Figure A6: How has being involved in White Ribbon Australia changed your view of what it means to be a man?
(multiple response item) Themes identified from "Other" responses Fixed choice option Public Report: Case Study of White Ribbon Australia's Ambassador Program Figure A7: What do you think are the primary successes of White Ribbon Australia? (multiple response item)

100%
Working with social institutions i.e., the police and military -47.3% Integration with schools through the Breaking the Silence school program -45.9% Working with sports teams -44.3% Working with other community organisations -32.8% Providing a safe space for men to be involved in prevention of men's violence against women -32.4% Working with diverse communities to increase awareness and engagement -29.1% Working with other anti-violence organisations -24.7% Other -5.7% Engaging workplaces -0.7% Enabling men to speak to men about stopping men's violence against women -83.1% Enabling men to speak to men about gender equality and equity -64.2% Creating a sense of community around violence prevention -61.8% Helping to influence government policies -54.7% Providing resources to men to use in their community -49.7% Promoting research into men's violence against women -48.3% Increasing male engagement in anti-violence initiatives -77.4% Creating a 'brand' that helps promote an anti-violence message -91.6% Spreading awareness of men's violence against women -79.7% Themes identified from "Other" responses Fixed choice option