VIOLENCEAGAINST WOMEN: The Argus

On Thursday, November 1 4th Ken Hancock held 2 seminars on the topic of ‘‘Men Against Male Vio- lence’’. Hancock, an ex-NHL player for the Chicago BlackHawks does not physically look like a ‘‘typical’’ advocate for women’s rights. It was, however, during his time as a hockey player that Hancock began to feel ashamed of the violence he and his fellow team mates were causing. He came to the realization that no

person has the right to touch another ina violent manner.

Hancock opened the discussion by describing the work of Men Against Male Violence. Groups of men will participate in 6 walks across Ontario beginning in the Spring of 1992. They are hoping to raise public awareness as well as encourage men across the prov- ince to speak out against violence.

Mr. Hancock then shifted the focus of the seminar. He stated that male culture worships war, and feels that the maiming and killing of Iraq women and children was seen asa victory.

Hancock failed, however, to state his group’s views on female participation in the Gulf War, a step which some women feel is a forward move on the issue of women ’srights. When questioned about this later, Hancock stated that war is still a male-dominated phenomenon and that women were merely exercising their rights, not sensationalizing the actual war itself.

On the homefront the violence is more personal. After T.V. football games, the phones at rape/assault crisis centres across the nation light up as men vent

their anger not on the losing team, but on their wives/ girlfriends/children.

Hancock also said a male walking away froma sexist comment/ joke ora woman in physical or sexual distress is no different from the man that turned and left the room as 14 women were murdered in Mon- treal. Apathy, of course, was not an issue in this case. One male student who was forced out by gun

point by the murderer committed suicide one year after the massacre.

Hancock feels that some men don’t find it worth it to fight for women’s equality with respect to ‘‘minor’’

incidents such as sexist jokes and harassing behav- iour.

He also noted that men tend to ‘‘talk away life’’.A NATO base in the north was completely shut down by Inuit women protesting on the runway against missile testing; they were tired of waiting for men to stop talking and begin taking action.

Hancock finished the seminar by giving some alarm- ing facts. Women are the poorest people in society. Some men consider violence against women, children and minorities are profound power. Canada led the world in arms supplies to the United States during Vietnam, including the making of napalm in Toronto. Some crisis shelters are built like fortresses to protect the women and children inside. Crisis centre workers are constantly confronted with shotguns by men looking for their wives or girlfriends.

Hancock has been jailed 60 times due to his support of causes ranging from ending the Vietnam war to Native rights. It was during these stays on jail where Hancock found most of his courage from women. Hancock closed his speech by saying that this vio- lence is nota women’s issue: men are the cause of this violence, it;s their issue.

The crowd was left with this last thought: ‘‘The final role call is the role call of justice’’.

UPEI X-P RESS

January 30, 1992

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