How to Start a Rape Awareness Program for Men

Experts and psychologists who deal with rape increasingly point out that rape is not a "woman's problem" but a community problem that needs to be understood and addressed by all. One of the newest and strongest fronts in the fight against rape is the awareness program designed specifically for men. If you want to start a rape awareness program for men, follow these steps.

Instructions

• 1

  Pick your target audience. While in the most general sense your audience is men, you need to narrow your demographic so you know to whom your speaking. One good example of a specifically targeted rape awareness program is a college awareness tour that speaks to men enrolled in American colleges and universities. Do the same and pick a specific demographic so you know how to approach your audience.

• 2

  Contact the rape crisis center. There are rape crisis centers at the county, state and national level. Contact one of these centers for a source of advice, research information and resources. One thing you should look into is finding a source of funding for your men's rape awareness program, and one of the rape crisis centers can help point you in the right direction.

• 3

  Get experts on board. Part of your men's rape awareness program staff should include professional counselors or psychologists who understand rape in society and the effect it has on its victims. Also, you should try to enlist male survivors of rape or male relatives or close friends of other survivors. Having men speak with other men about rape will enable your program to have a serious impact on others.

• 4

  Branch out. As your program starts to take shape you should begin to reach out to neighboring communities and areas. Since most of the difficulty in starting a rape awareness program lies in the initial few steps, replicating your program or, just as effectively, taking it on the road will expand the reach and effectiveness of the program. Speak with rape crisis centers in neighboring districts to find host organizations and potential sources of funding.