Female Voice in Violence report

Men and boys require support to understand the consequences of their attitudes and behaviours towards violence against women, according to research carried out by Catch22.

Catch22 collected opinions and attitudes as well as capturing debate and views on gender and serious youth violence from young males in Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and London.

Tom Sackville, head of Catch22’s gangs unit, will address the launch on the research findings and recommendations:

'It is clear that many young men and boys don’t see themselves as being responsible for placing girls and young women in violent situations. Our research shows that often young men feel they have no choice over getting involved with a gang, whereas they believe young women do. A common view was that young women exercise that choice through the relationships they choose.'

This was illustrated by the following views expressed during the course of our field-work:

• 'Some boys might not see any other way out of it. Like if they’ve failed in school, then they’ll think, ‘God, this is the only way out’. But girls have a choice.'
• 'Because obviously they love the person. For example, say if I’d been selling a load of drugs and my girlfriend knew that the police was onto me, I think she obviously wouldn’t want me to go to prison because she loves me and she’d be without me, know what I mean.'
• 'Some girls like the thug love…They’re attracted to the actual whole lifestyle…like the thug lifestyle and the adrenalin that comes with it.'

Participants in the field-work were, however, unanimous in stating that girls and women all faced significant risk from association. Rival gang members who had an argument with the girl’s boyfriend tended to be indentified as the main source of risk. Risks commonly cited included kidnap, rape, getting stabbed or shot, being physically attacked, or ultimately being killed.

This was reinforced by comments like:

• 'When someone can’t get to you they go for the closest thing to you and more likely that is gonna (sic) be a woman.'

Tom Sackville adds:

'Among the young men we spoke to, it’s apparent that there is often a lack of understanding of what constitutes coercion, lack of choice and in some cases intimidation when it comes to their attitudes to women. This can be influenced by many factors including ethnicity, geographical location, educational attainment, familial and peer pressure and levels of disadvantage. As young men can be instrumental in the issues that they expose young women to, and shape their experiences of, serious youth violence then we need to build them into the solution. This means developing positive communications and partnerships in order to provide specialist support to change these negative attitudes.'

The findings  form part of a powerful and compelling report ’This is it. This is my life: the female voice in violence final report on the impact of serious youth violence and criminal gangs on women and girls across the country’ written by ROTA (Race on the Agenda), launched Tuesday 22 March.

Catch22 will be tweeting live from the launch. You can find out what happens at the event by following @catch22charity.

Catch22 is joining ROTA’s call for funding of voluntary sector organisations to develop models of specialist provision that will address the attitudes and behaviours of men and boys, who are involved in criminal gangs and serious youth violence, to women and girls.