Nova Scotians interested in learning more about gender-based violence and how to prevent it, are invited to a presentation Monday, March 24, by internationally known speaker and author Jackson Katz.
The event, hosted by the Advisory Council on the Status of Women, is part of the launch of 2014 Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Nova Scotia, which runs through April.
“There is no place in society for violence of any form,” said Minister responsible for the Status of Women Joanne Bernard. “Ending and preventing sexual and gender violence is a collective responsibility that will require the efforts of all Nova Scotians. It involves changing attitudes, values, beliefs, behaviours and requires a commitment from all of us.
“As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we are pleased to bring Dr. Katz to the province for a discussion on how we can all do more to create a caring, responsive society where healthy and respectful relationships are the norm.”
The multi-media presentation, Men, Women, Sex and Violence, starts at 7:30 p.m. at Citadel High School’s Spatz Theatre, 1855 Trollope St., Halifax. The event is free and the doors open at 6:45 p.m.
Mr. Katz will discuss the role of media in shaping social norms, how those can contribute to sexual and domestic violence, and the importance of understanding, and changing, a cultural environment that condones and promotes sexism and violence.
Ms. Bernard and the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women are partnering with Saint Mary’s University and its president Colin Dodds to bring Mr. Katz to campus March 25. Mr. Katz will present Blurred Lines: Sex and Violence in Media and Real Life. The talk will be held in the Loyola Conference Hall at 7 p.m. and is open to the university community.
“We are very pleased to be able to host Dr. Katz and share his expertise with the Saint Mary’s community,” said Mr. Dodds. “His insight will be particularly helpful as we continue to work to change the culture on campus and promote the values of equality, respect and non-violence.”
Mr. Katz is a pioneer of gender violence prevention education and critical media literacy. He is co-founder of Mentors in Violence Prevention, an original “bystander” program. It has been implemented in schools, community organizations all branches of the U.S. military, and is the most widely used sexual and domestic violence prevention program in North American college and professional athletics.
He is creator of the films Tough Guise and Tough Guise 2, and author of The Macho Paradox and Leading Men: Presidential Campaigns and the Politics of Manhood. He lectures internationally on violence, media and masculinities.
For more information, visit www.jacksonkatz.com .
Source: Release