Alberta men more aware of violence against women, survey suggests

Men in Alberta are moreunderstanding of what constitutesviolence against women and its impact than four years ago, according to a survey commissioned by the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters(ACWS).

The council released itsfindings Monday, in time for International Women's Day on March 8.This is the second time the survey has been conducted since2012.

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In the last four years, the number of men who said they recognize that violence canaffectwomen they care about has increased from 54 per cent to 65 per cent.Almost all men surveyed,97 per cent,said violence against women is a concern.

One in five men said they have witnessed abuse in a social environment within the last year. Of those, 61 per cent said they challenged the abuser's behaviour.

"I hope we continue in leaps and bounds in a positive direction," said JanReimer,executive director ofACWS.

Reimersays there needs to be more education about what violence against women looks like, especiallysince only 25 per cent of the men surveyed said they always consideryelling as a form of abuse.

Sixty-one per cent of respondents also said they don't understand why women stay in abusive relationships.

"(There's) still lots of work to do, but I think if we can makesome dents in those, it's going to be better for not just women and girls but also for men and boys," she said.

The province plans to use the survey to tackle gender equity, especially in male-dominated professions.

"We are very happy to have these results because they'll inform decision-making across government andacross ministries with respect to where we put resources and how we use our resources as the government," said Stephanie McLean, Alberta'sminister for the status of women.

"Hopefully, my own son will be raised in that environment where we know what it means to be a feminist."

Pat Vargas,executive director of a Sherwood Parkshelter calledA Safe Place,has worked with abused women for more than two decades.

Vargassays the statistics are encouraging, but meaningless without further action in support of women.

"People are willing to say they don't accept violence," Vargassaid. "They're willing to say a lot of things.Now we need to see action. So it's not just the attitude. Now it needs to translate into actual practice."

Vargas says everybody should beeducatedabout violence against women sinceit can be difficult for both men and women to recognize and acknowledge abuse.

"I'm appreciative of all the work that is being done with men," she said.

"I think as long as women also continue to resist violence, as long as they continue to resist oppression, we will be able to move society forward."