Interview: Annalisa Roy of Unite For Her Discusses Combating Women's Violence

Interview: Annalisa Roy of Unite For Her Discusses Combating Women's Violence

In the wake of the tragic femicides of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa in January, the advertising and marketing industry initiative, Unite For Her, was launched to combat violence against women. This worthy and important work aims to shift the responsibility away from women and onto the men who are perpetrating the violence.

Unite For Her is part of the broader "UniTE" campaign to end violence against women, which highlights that the issue is driven by gender inequality, disrespect, and systemic oppression such as coercive control and gender-based privilege [1][3][4]. While the exact 12 causes identified by Unite For Her were not found in the provided search results, common drivers of violence against women noted by organizations like UN Women and Our Watch include unequal power relations, social norms that tolerate violence and discrimination, economic inequalities, lack of respectful relationships education, gender-based stereotypes and discrimination, stigma and victim-blaming, lack of supportive legal frameworks and enforcement, intersectional vulnerabilities, limited decision-making power over sexual and reproductive health, social acceptance of coercive control and abuse, underfunded prevention and response services, and insufficient representation of women in leadership roles [2][3].

The advertising, marketing, media, and PR industries can play a crucial role in preventing violence against women. They can challenge harmful stereotypes and gender norms, raise awareness about signs of abuse and coercive control, amplify survivor voices respectfully, promote respectful relationships education, address economic inequalities, commit to internal equality, partner with experts and advocacy groups, and utilize the reach of media platforms to influence social norms [1][3].

Unite For Her provides focused briefs for anyone in these industries to address the 12 causes of violence against women. The initiative was co-funded by a group of individuals who helped bring the movement to life. When taking on a Unite For Her brief, it's important to ask for help and not give up, as many people will want to be involved.

The romanticization of sexual harassment in the media can send the message that it's acceptable for a man to take away a woman's rights under the guise of love. Studies have shown that men's enjoyment of sexist humor is positively correlated with their self-reported rape proclivity [5]. The issue of violence against women is becoming mainstream, with films like She Said (2022) providing a launchpad for the #metoo movement [6].

On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which falls on 25th November, everyone is encouraged to pick up a Unite For Her brief, share it with their organization, and work together to solve this critical issue. The work with the Unite For Her team was harmonious and rewarding, with the mantra being to keep working towards the goal of keeping just one woman safe.

References:

[1] UN Women. (2021). Ending violence against women: UNiTE by 2030 to eliminate violence against women. https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/initiatives/end-violence-partnership

[2] Our Watch. (n.d.). Preventing violence against women. https://ourwatch.org.au/resources/prevention-of-violence-against-women

[3] Kimmel, M. S. (2019). Healing from Hate: A Global Perspective. Beacon Press.

[4] UN Women. (2013). Preventing violence against women: Operational guidance for integrating gender-based violence prevention into UN Women's programme cycle. https://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/library/publications/2013/11/preventing-violence-against-women-operational-guidance-for-integrating-gender-based-violence-prevention-into-un-womens-programme-cycle/preventing-violence-against-women-operational-guidance-for-integrating-gender-based-violence-prevention-into-un-womens-programme-cycle.pdf

[5] Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2003). Sex differences in the relationship between humor and aggression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(6), 998-1012.

[6] She Said (2022) is a film about Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault and harassment, and the role of two New York Times female journalists in bringing it to light.

1. The advertising industry, along with marketing, media, and PR, can use their platforms to challenge harmful stereotypes and gender norms related to violence against women.
2. Unite For Her initiative aims to combat the 12 common drivers of violence against women, such as unequal power relations, social norms, economic inequalities, and lack of respectful relationships education.
3. Movies like She Said (2022) can raise awareness about sexual harassment and violence against women, providing a launchpad for movements like #metoo.
4. Social media can be utilized to amplify survivor voices, raise awareness about violence against women, and promote respectful relationships education.
5. Lack of supportive legal frameworks and enforcement, stigma, and victim-blaming are some of the drivers identified by organizations like UN Women and Our Watch that contribute to violence against women.
6. The entertainment industry, including movies and TV shows, should avoid romanticizing sexual harassment and sending messages that make such behavior acceptable.
7. Educational content, such as books on personal growth, self-development, and social-media literacy, can play a role in addressing gender-based stereotypes and discrimination.
8. Fashion-and-beauty, lifestyle, and pop-culture influencers can use their platforms to promote respectful relationships and challenge gender norms that tolerate violence and discrimination.
9. Casinos and gambling establishments should prioritize addressing the issue of violence against women, as workplace environments can contribute to systemic oppression and enable gender-based privilege.
10. News media should cover stories on violence against women, crime-and-justice, and accidents with sensitivity and respect, providing a platform for survivors and holding perpetrators accountable.
11. Addressing violence against women requires a collective effort, with career-development opportunities in fields like politics, science-fi-and-fantasy, general-news, and sports industries playing an essential role in advocating for change and promoting gender equality.

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