The Worker Institute at Cornell Unveils Report That Proves the Effectiveness of the 12 Men Model

Engaging Men as Allies on Gender and Domestic Violence Prevention
An Analysis of the 12 Men Model at Vera House, Inc.

Click HERE to read the full report.

Summary:
The Worker Institute report analyzes Vera House Inc.’s 12 Men Model, a program designed to engage
men as allies in preventing domestic and sexual violence in their networks and communities. Researchers
surveyed past program participants and found that after completing the program, men rethought their
attitudes toward gender and masculinity and took action towards preventing abuse.

The Worker Institute unveils a number of key findings from their survey of the 12 Men Model:

• 89.3% of program participants applied strategies they learned from the model in their own life
   
• 85.2% of participants felt more equipped to intervene in a domestic violence situation because of the 12 men Model
   
• 66.7% of participants personally used a domestic violence prevention technique from the model in their own life, such as walking away from a heated exchange with a spouse
   
• 84.0% of past participants agree that the strategies they learned were very or somewhat impactful in their community or network
   
• 48.2% of program participants intervened in a non-aggressive way when they observed abusive language, potential domestic violence, or threats of violence after completion of the model
   
• 85.2% of participants will or have recommended the program to others

The data reveals that participants pushed back against societal expectations and also connected
restrictive gender roles and behaviors to issues of domestic and sexual violence. The report concludes
that the 12 Men Model has the capability to grow and could potentially aid in reducing violence in
communities. Researchers also included several recommendations for how Vera House Inc. could move
its program forward and expand it to other spaces, such as the workplace. The report was written by
Hunter Moskowitz and KC Wagner of the Worker Institute, along with Yasamin Miller of the Yasamin
Miller Group.

The Worker Institute at Cornell, an institute of the ILR School, engages in research and education on contemporary labor issues to generate innovative thinking and solutions to problems related to work, economy and society. The Institute brings together researchers, educators and students with practitioners in labor, business and policymaking to confront growing economic and social inequalities, in the interests of working people and their families. A core value of The Worker Institute is that worker rights and collective representation are vital to a fair economy, robust democracy and just society.