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| Young Men's Life Experience |
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Violence is not only about the power of men over women it also comes from men’s own life experiences and fears. For some young men, the use of violence is a way of proving to themselves and those around them that they are “real men”. Raised by fathers who may have attended residential schools or who do not know how to nurture or show affection, some young men carry on this trait leaving them unable to feel what others feel. If you do not feel what others feel, you are more likely to commit violence because you are not fully aware of the damage you are doing. Many young men are taught to suppress their emotions which they are taught make them weak or "girly". But feelings are a part of being human. When we try to suppress feelings, they often re-emerge in the form of aggression and violence. Young men who have grown up witnessing violence in their own home or directly experiencing violence themselves can grow up refusing to use violence themselves though it can teach some that hurting another is acceptable in personal relationships. None of these factors are an excuse for individual acts of violence but by understanding all the factors we get closer to changing the conditions that create violence in the first place. All forms of racialized and sexualized violence against Aboriginal women must stop! |
