The Prevention Self-Audit
Karen Whybro is NOT to be messed with.
What do I mean by that?
I mean that anyone who is rightfully known as “Women’s Safety Consultant and international expert on creating safe spaces for women and girls through research, consultancy and training to reduce sexism & misogyny” and has the writing skills she regularly displays on LinkedIn is not someone who suffers fools in her comments.
She is one of the best follows on the platform.
Her latest (as shown above in the screengrab) is such a spot-on evaluation of the ecosystem that produces the conditions surrounding cases like Cornell that I not only had to share it, BUT also wanted to use it as an evaluation of what we’re doing with TeamsOfMen.
Each sentence that starts with “It’s…” is worthy of your scrutiny and reflection by simply swapping in “DO WE…”
Example: “It’s accountability holding grown men responsible for their actions” becomes “DO WE hold the men in our program responsible for their actions?”
From there, keep going. Do we educate the men in our program about the prevalence of male violence? Do we challenge myths about sexual violence and domestic abuse when they show up in our team rooms? Do we consider whether the spaces, events and culture surrounding our program are safe for women and girls? Do we intentionally teach AND model respect to the young men entrusted to us?
Some of the lines won’t be applicable to your sport program. Some will absolutely speak truth to you and the actual influence you CAN have on the men in your space.
Take 10 minutes with yourself today (if your staff is around, include them). Read each “It’s…” and turn it into a “DO WE…”
And if the honest answer to one of them is “No”…sit with that for a second before explaining why. Then ask what it would take to turn it into a “Yes.”
Coach Prompts
DO WE hold the men in our program accountable when their actions violate the values we claim to have?
DO WE actively challenge myths, jokes and beliefs about sexual violence when they enter our team spaces?
DO WE consider whether the culture we create around our program is actually safe for women and girls?
Player Prompts
Where do you think prevention actually starts BEFORE someone causes harm?
What beliefs about sexual violence, consent or relationships have you heard from other guys that deserve to be challenged?
What is one part of your team culture that YOU have influence over making safer or more respectful?
