To further the fight against intimate partner violence, Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) Beauty has partnered with Dr. Michael Kaufman, a speaker and author dedicated to the role of men and boys in advancing gender equality, and Dr. Gary Barker, a gender equality advocate. Together, they are publishing a new thought leadership article on how men and boys can be involved in ending intimate partner violence.
YSL Beauty first launched its global program against IPV, Abuse Is Not Love, in 2020. The program aims to tackle the issue at all levels, including training employees and advisors; supporting partners and local NGOs with trainings and programs; engaging thought leadership; and educating the public through media about the warning signs of abuse and how to access resources and support.
Dr. Kaufman, co-founder of the White Ribbon Campaign, and Dr. Barker, CEO of research organization Equimundo, have published a white paper as part of the collaboration, exploring ideas for how to engage men on the topic of intimate partner violence and the impact of this form of violence on men as survivors, complicit bystanders, and/or perpetrators.
IPV is defined as any behaviour within an intimate relationship, whether married, single or cohabiting, that causes physical, psychological or sexual harm to those in the relationship. According to Refuge, one in four women in England and Wales will experience domestic violence in their lifetime and on average, one woman is murdered by an abusive partner or ex every five days in England and Wales.
Numerous women have spoken out about their own experiences with IPV and domestic violence. Most recently, Paralympic athlete Tracy Otto, who is competing in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games as part of the U.S. archery team, shared how she was attacked in her home by an ex-boyfriend in 2019. The attack left her paralyzed from the chest down and also left her eye.
Abuse Is Not Love wants to draw attention to the major problem of this type of violence. The campaign believes that it is important to involve men in the fight against it.
The Growing Problem of Misogyny
The article comes as the UK grapples with how to tackle a growing problem of misogyny. In July, the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) described the problem of online influencers radicalising young men and boys as a “national emergency”.
The NPCC published a report on violence against women and girls, which found that at least one in 12 women in England and Wales experiences violence each year, equating to around two million women.
Influencers such as Andrew Tate, a self-described “misogynist” with almost 10 million followers on the platform X, formerly Twitter, are playing a major role in radicalising young boys and men. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper earlier this month vowed to crack down on those spreading “harmful and hateful beliefs” online, including extreme misogyny.
Research from University College London, the University of Kent and the Association of School and College Leaders has found that social media algorithms amplify extreme content, including hateful ideologies and misogynistic speech.
The researchers found that the level of misogynistic content on TikTok accounts’ “For You” pages quadrupled in just five days on the platform. They stressed the need to engage boys in discussions about online misogyny and recommended peer-to-peer mentoring to tackle the problem.
What’s stopping men from taking on misogyny?
Speaking to Yahoo UK, Dr Kaufman explains the complex barriers that prevent men from taking a more active role in the fight against male violence against women (MVAW).
“First of all, there is a lack of knowledge among boys and men about how extreme and how bad [the problem of IPV] is. It is a problem that is often hidden in the home,” he says. “The second problem is that there are many sympathetic men who recognize that there is a problem, but they prefer to remain silent because it is ‘not their problem’ or because they do not commit the violence.
“But by our silence, we have allowed violence to continue. Let’s face it – men are still the ones who make the laws; who speak from the pulpit; who make up the bulk of police forces and judges’ benches. We are still the ones that boys look up to when it comes to setting an example of what manhood is. So when we remain silent about violence, we are essentially giving tacit permission.”
In their whitepaper, Dr. Kaufman and Dr. Barker highlight research from Equimundo showing that young men “are fully aware of sexual harassment of girls online and in person, and of homophobic bullying from male peers, but they often don’t talk about it because they fear the consequences their peers will have for them.”
By our silence we have allowed the violence to continueDr. Michael Kaufman, Co-Founder of the White Ribbon Project
“Especially when we’re young, the fear of isolation, the fear of being the next victim of, if not physical, then verbal abuse, is what keeps some men silent,” says Dr. Kaufman. “It’s a real challenge to actually engage men and boys in speaking out against IPV.”
To empower men to speak out against violence against women and domestic violence, they need to be given the opportunity to have open and authentic conversations about these issues, making them aware of what is happening around them.
It’s important for boys and men who want to speak out to know they’re not alone, says Dr. Kaufman. It’s also crucial that they find their voice.
“Some men may be able to physically intervene, but others may not have that confidence or skill. But then it’s about finding the words and keeping your eyes on things. The key is that you have to do something, you can’t just stand by and watch. Whether it’s using humor to diffuse a situation or drawing attention to the situation by asking an authority figure for help, these are important, actionable things that men can do.”
What is the YSL Beauty Abuse Is Not Love program?
Abuse Is Not Love was founded by Juleah Love, global head of brand corporate engagement at YSL Beauty. She tells Yahoo UK that the topic means a lot to her as a way to ensure the brand continues to contribute to the independence and liberation of women – by honouring the legacy of Yves Saint Laurent himself.
“When we started developing the program, it was clear that violence against women is one of the biggest issues for women around the world. When we dug into the topic, it turned out that IPV was the most underreported, underfunded, and most prevalent of the 25 types of violence against women,” Love explains.
“The program started with changing the company internally, how we train people, how we develop policies, how we support people within the company. Then we partnered with local nonprofits in each market to support their actions on the ground.”
YSL Beauty’s Abuse Is Not Love partnerships with local nonprofits are crucial to driving change, Dr. Kaufman adds. “It’s not just a top-down approach, it’s a grassroots effort. When you combine YSL Beauty’s global reach and bottom-up approach with local organizations, along with other initiatives that work to support women’s shelters, parenting programs, and public education for men and boys, we can start to make a difference.”
“Violence against women is not eternal. It is a problem that you and I and all of us can help end.”
Free and confidential support is available through Refuge’s 24-hour national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247 and digital support via live chat Monday to Friday 3pm-10pm via nationaldahelpline.org.uk.
Anyone experiencing domestic violence, including survivors of past abuse, can get help from Victim Support – regardless of whether it has been reported to the police. Visit victimsupport.org.uk where you can get in touch via Live Chat or by calling the charity’s 24/7 support line on 08 08 16 89 111.
Women’s aid, with similar helplines availablealso has information about how to help your children, create a safety planand what to do if you worried about someone else.
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