Men perpetuate domestic violence by what they teach their sons

VIENNA

If men want to do something against domestic violence, they can start by paying closer attention to what they teach their children.

“We don’t perpetuate this violence, but we’re a part of the foundation that allows this to exist,” declared Tony Porter, founder of Call to Men, an organization dedicated to getting men involved in stopping domestic violence against women and children.

Porter spoke Saturday morning at Squaw Creek Country Club to a predominately male audience of more than 100, several of whom brought their young sons. Porter’s message was for them as well.

Porter said men unwittingly teach their sons that women have less value because they are perceived as weak, are looked upon as property and objectified for sex. He said that view passes through generations, enabling a culture of violence against women, violence which he estimates is committed by 15 percent of the male population.

“In this culture, [young men] do not have any interest in women unless sex is part of the equation,” Porter said. “They’re called ‘fresh meat’ and then we forget about them the next day, but they live with this for years.”

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