The #MeToo movement has shined much-needed light on the pervasiveness of sexual harassment and abuse, creating unprecedented demand for gender violence prevention models that actually work. The Bystander Moment tells the story of one of the most prominent and proven of these models – the innovative bystander approach developed by pioneering activist and writer Jackson Katz and his colleagues.
In a riveting analysis illustrated with archival footage and clips from news, sports, and entertainment media, Katz explores the role played by bystanders—especially friends, teammates, classmates, and co-workers—in perpetuating sexual harassment, sexual assault, and other forms of gender violence. Katz also gives special attention to peer culture dynamics—especially male peer culture dynamics across race and ethnicity—that help to normalize sexism and misogyny while silencing other men in the face of abuse.
Along the way, The Bystander Moment stresses the crucial importance of appealing to people not as potential perpetrators or passive spectators, but as active bystanders and potential leaders who have a positive role to play in challenging and changing the sexist cultural norms that too often lead to gender violence.
There will be a screening of The Bystander Moment documentary in the Regatta Pavilion (Main Conference Hall) on Sept 6th at 5 pm during the SART Summit.
