Safe (men) Space

A Journey to Change and Awareness

Welcome back to our blog! In our previous post, we shared our vision and goals for creating a short film that provides men with tools to intervene in cases of sexual misconduct. Today, we want to take you along on our journey—a journey full of challenges, learning experiences, and inspiration, with the goal of motivating men to take an active role in addressing this issue.

The Power of the 5 D's

On March 23, we participated in a workshop organized by Fairspace, where we delved deeply into the five D's. This strategy offers practical tools for situations where someone needs help:

- Distract: Prevent escalation by distracting attention.

- Direct: Take direct action or address someone.

- Delegate: Ask someone else to intervene.

- Delay: Approach the victim after the conflict and offer acknowledgment.

- Document: Record the situation as evidence.

 These five D's provide a structured way to act safely and effectively in situations of sexual misconduct.

Understanding the World of Men

Our research specifically focused on the complexities of the lives of (queer) men. We examined the influence of gender roles, friendships, family, beliefs, and sexuality on their experiences and behavior. Through conversations and surveys, we gained insight into how men experience gender roles and how this affects their interactions. These insights were crucial in understanding why men do or do not intervene in cases of sexual misconduct.

By focusing on the world of men, we developed a deeper understanding of the factors that contribute to their choices and actions. This understanding was essential in creating our short film, in which we provide men with accessible tools to intervene.

The Making of Our Short Film

With this knowledge and insight, we invited 12 men to collaborate with us on the film. Some scenes turned out to be more challenging than expected, but the collaboration and shared vision helped us overcome these obstacles. We aimed to create realistic and relevant images from male perspectives so that the viewer could truly relate to the situations.

The Workshop and the Release

During the workshop with Amnesty International, the five D's were discussed in detail. These strategies formed the basis for the scenes in our film. We wanted to ensure that our film not only raises awareness but also provides practical tools that men can use in their daily lives.

Although we initially planned to include scenes with both straight and queer couples, a shortage of actors forced us to come up with an alternative. Nevertheless, we hope that our film appeals to a broad audience and encourages men to take action.

Our Goals and Future Impact

Our primary goal with "Safe (men) Space" is to provide men with tools to intervene in cases of sexual misconduct. We want this video to be used in schools and communities to raise awareness and motivate men to play an active role in creating a safe environment for everyone.

While we cannot yet evaluate whether we have fully achieved our goal, we are proud of the steps we have taken. We have learned that achieving big goals requires time and perseverance, and we are determined to continue spreading this message.

Inspiration for the Future

Our short film "Safe (men) Space" is an important step in raising awareness and addressing sexual misconduct. We hope it inspires men to be part of the solution. Sexual misconduct is unfortunately common, as Rutgers' figures show, and by teaching men how they can contribute to a safer society, we can collectively bring about change.

We invite you all to watch our film and join the dialogue. Together, we can create a culture where respect and safety are the norm. Let’s continue this journey and keep fighting for a world without sexual misconduct.

Watch our short film and share your thoughts with us. Together, we make a difference.

With hope and determination,

The Safe (men) Space Team

And some bloopers: