Understanding White Ribbon : its emergence and limits in countering men's violence in Australia

Abstract

The White Ribbon campaign is the world's largest transnational social movement organisation designed to engage men in the prevention of violence against women. Australia's version of the campaign evolved to become the country's largest community anti-violence organisation to engage men, and became central as a partner for the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-2022. The liquidation of the organisation in 2019 has left a vacuum in men's politics and questions the feasibility and future of community mobilisation regarding men's opposition to violence. This thesis explores the organisation's historic origins, tracing its transfer from Canada to Australia, and its shift from grass roots activism to a professionalised national organisation. It critically analyses the mobilisation of White Ribbon, related organisational strategies and their limitations. Such limitations included a heavy campaign focus on symbolism and gesture at the same time as a failure to directly challenge the deeper structural aspects of gender inequality across the social spectrum.

Date of Award	2020
Original language	English