A call to healing: Men's experiences of violence against women prevention in northern BC

Policy makers working in violence against women prevention (VAWP) are increasingly calling on men and boys to become involved in efforts to reduce gender based violence. This project asked: What are the experiences of northern men involved in VAWP? Six men involved in VAWP in Northern BC were interviewed in-depth, using narrative inquiry to create and understand their stories: I Have a Story to Tell, A Call to Healing, Living Intentionally, Gentle Learnings, Never Arrived, and Moving for Independence. Key themes shared among participants include I Want to Help, It’s Personal, and Sharing Spaces. Tangible Opportunity and Personal Desire to Help and See Change were found as pathways to VAWP. Social restraints and Personal Journey’s including Trauma were identified as barriers to men‟s engagement in VAWP. Implications of this work contribute to a deeper understanding of men's experiences of VAWP.