It's time for men to step up in the fight against sexual abuse

The fight against sexual abuse and violence has been led by women for more than 30 years.

Leaders in the movement say it's time for men to join the effort.

Gurnee-based Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center, along with a coalition of partners, has launched a new program called "Up to Us" to inspire men to become actively involved in reducing domestic sexual violence and changing behaviors that fuel that violence, organizers say.

Modeled after a program running in California, it is the first of its kind in Lake County.

Staff from Zacharias, members of Zion-based A Safe Place and other community agencies put on a series of role-playing skits designed to expose underlying attitudes that contribute to violence and abuse of women.

The presentations, which have been made to school and community groups in recent months, can be as short as 40 minutes for middle and high school students or as long as a day for other audiences.

"Women have always led the anti-rape movement. Before 1972, there were no domestic violence shelters or rape crisis centers," said Joe Howard, director of development at Zacharias. "This was the second phase of the women's movement. Men have just not stepped up."

The need for male involvement is undeniable, said Howard, who was the first male hired at the Center in 2001.

"The obvious fact is that men are the perpetrators in 99 percent of the cases," he said. "Men are in positions of power. That isn't given up lightly."

"Up to Us" emphasizes the need for men to be engaged at a variety of levels.

Howard said men need to change their attitudes and behaviors toward women, and silence is not an acceptable behavior.

"They also need to model appropriate behavior for youth, and work to educate people within their spheres of influence," he said.

"Up to Us" has been presented at the College of Lake County, Lake Forest High School and area churches, and has a growing list of invitations.

Role-playing skits designed to expose attitudes that contribute to violence are a key part of the presentation.

In one instance, a teenage girl is late coming home. Suspicious that she was out having sex, her father flies into a rage. Turns out she wasn't guilty of that, but the dad has created a climate of anger around the issue of sexuality. If the daughter was ever assaulted, it's not likely she would be willing to talk about it at home, "Up to Us" organizers say.

Yolanda Collier, an executive with the Waukegan Housing Authority, watched an "Up to Us" presentation at CLC and was impressed by what she saw. She's invited the group to speak to her housing residents.

"Someone is finally reaching out to men to come out and stand up for nonviolence toward woman," Collier said. "They are good at raising an awareness of how oblivious we can all be to the things that contribute to a culture of violence. We often promote that culture without even realizing it."

Howard cited sobering statistics that point to the urgency of the need.

Women aged 16 to 25 are three times more likely to be raped than other women, according to the Springfield-based Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

More than 70 percent of rape or sexual assault victims knew their attackers, compared to about half of all violent crime victims.

Male attitudes about rape compound the problem, Howard said.

Eighty eight percent of men whose actions came under the legal definition of rape were adamant their behavior did not constitute rape, statistics showed.

The thought of reversing that trend is daunting, but Dan Maigler, a social worker at Lake Forest High School and a core member of "Up to Us," said men need to understand it's their issue, too.

"It's easy to say, 'that's Oprah's deal, let the book club discuss it,'" Maigler said. "It makes it seem like it's just a women's issue."

Maigler said the relatively short presentations can make a long-term impact on people.

"The information is so simple, it can become a 'wow' experience," Maigler said. "It will carry with them because it's experiential. It won't fix everyone, but it will plant a seed that will stay for a long time."

The Zacharias agency is the only rape crisis center in Lake County. The 25-year-old group provides free counseling for children and adults, a 24-hour hotline and educational programs in schools and hospitals, among other places. They provide 24-hour counseling services and advocacy for victims and families. For more information about the Center or Up to Us, visit zcenter.org.

Howard is realistic about the uphill battle, but he said change is possible.

"I know that one teacher, one man, one 2-minute encounter with the right person can make a huge difference in a person's life," he said. "If we can play that role, that would be great."

<p class="factboxheadblack">Facts about sexual assault</p>

<p class="News">• 12% to 35% of teenagers have experienced violence within a dating relationship, including pushing, shoving and hitting.</p>

<p class="News">• 88% of men whose actions came under the legal definition of rape were adamant their behavior did not constitute rape.</p>

<p class="News">• More than 70% of rape or sexual assault victims knew their attackers, compared to about half of all violent crime victims.</p>

<p class="News">• Women aged 16-25 are three times more likely to be raped than other women.</p>

<p class="News">• 90% of sexual assault victims who knew their attacker did not report the attack to the police.</p>

<p class="News">• 32% of sexual assaults occur when the victim is between the ages of 11 and 17.</p>

<p class="News">Source: The Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault </p>