Prevention – I do not think it means what you think it means

Lately, I have read so many posts, articles and even websites about preventing violence, preventing bullying, preventing harassment, preventing rape.

​I’m reminded of the movie, The Princess Bride.

The substance of these posts refer to strategies that are about responding, either at the time or after the event.  Almost without exception, they talk about support for  [victims] but they often don’t even mention the people who are using those behaviours.

• Responding – there’s a hint in the prefix to the word. You respond to something that is happening or has already happened.
• Prevention means stopping it from happening in the first place.

There are some rare examples advocating actual prevention.  Not the victim blaming and authoritarian approaches to “safety” and “risk”, but some suggesting real action to address culture and conduct before it creates perpetrators, victims and trauma.  I believe that genuine prevention is worth more of our attention.

We need to turn to face the problem.  Those who use violence, harassment, bullying, and rape should not be allowed to be faceless and dehumanised with labels like "perpetrator". They should be visible and accountable. They should be seen and recognised as people who could have chosen to act differently.

The answer to prevention starts with the people who think violence is an option - and we need to listen to what they are saying.  We can ask what made it possible for them to choose violence, harassment, bullying and rape? We can ask what needs to change so that people don't choose violence, harassment, bullying and rape? We can ask how to we get to where people don't even consider it an option?

Inconceivable! That’s what violence needs to be. That would be prevention.