Real Talk: Engaging Young Men as Allies to End Violence Against Women

Beyondmedia partnered with the Young Women's Action Team to produce "Real Talk," a film that features the voices of men in their community. In the film, the girls ask young and adult men what a male ally looks like and how they can build the movement to stop violence against women and girls. Using poetry, dance and interviews, this video speaks to youth who want to confront violence in their community. See https://beyondmedia.org for more information.

00:00Copy video clip URL Opening dance sequence between two people as Shannon, from the Young Women’s Action Team, speaks about not feeling safe from predatory men in her neighborhood. Shay, another member of the Young Women’s Action Team, talks about women and girls having to hide their true emotions in relationships with men. 

00:47Copy video clip URL Title card: “Real Talk: Engaging Young Men as Allies to End Violence Against Women” 

00:53Copy video clip URL Corey, Claude Robinson, Nick Gainer, and Daniel McNeil answer the interview question “How would you define violence against women and girls?” Nykia shares a personal experience of domestic violence. 

03:34Copy video clip URL A scene portrays an instance of catcalling, followed by the onscreen text: “Eighty-six percent of young women interviewed in Rogers Park said that they had been catcalled on the street.” Emilya shares the lack of safety from harassment that she feels in her neighborhood. 

04:41Copy video clip URL Two men play basketball as a voiceover of a poem is read. Corey and Norman Polk answer the question “Why do you think some men are violent or abusive to the women and the girls that they love and care for?” Reggie and Semaj share some of the violence they’ve witnessed. 

07:33Copy video clip URL Onscreen text: “Americans believe that forty-nine percent of boys will grow up to abuse their girlfriends or wives.” Nykia continues to share her experience with domestic violence. Various boys and men share their thoughts on why some men resort to violence against women. 

10:30Copy video clip URL Clip from a music video showing how the media portrays women as sexual objects. Men share how the media influences their opinions of women and of themselves. 

13:46Copy video clip URL The voiceover poem continues over footage of women and girls protesting. Crystal, Lillian, and Shannon share their frustrations with catcalling. Various men read quotes aloud where roles are reversed such as “Men have to be careful how they dress because they may provoke women to sexually assault them.” 

16:21Copy video clip URL The group of men answers the question “What needs to change in society to eliminate violence towards women and girls?”

19:54Copy video clip URL The voiceover poem continues over footage of young girls playing and drawing on the sidewalk. Men share the importance of having men in the movement against violence against women. 

24:15Copy video clip URL Onscreen text: “A project by the Young Women’s Action Team”, men share what a male ally looks like. 

25:53Copy video clip URL Credits