It was once the case that men would go out to work and women would stay at home. Men earned a living, and women looked after the house. Yet, while this backwards thinking may seem like a thing of the past to many, in certain rural areas these patriarchal practices are still surprisingly commonplace.  

Within countryside communities, men largely hold the positions of power: three-quarters of farmers are male; two-thirds of police officers are male; over half of landlords are male. Whether intentionally or not, these male-dominated spheres can cause serious issues for women. This includes making those suffering domestic abuse less inclined to reach out for help - with the National Rural Crime Network (NRCN) finding that rural victims are half as likely to report abuse.  

As Julia Mulligan, former Chair of the NRCN, explains: “Bucolic rural life, characterised by gentle living, tradition and close-knit communities, has a dark side. It fosters a strong sense of male entitlement, which goes comparatively unchecked, flourishing alongside endemic ignorance about domestic abuse, deliberate or otherwise. It is taboo, with people deliberately turning their backs on victims, who are left physically and socially isolated, feeling deeply ashamed.”  

We at RAD, through our domestic abuse awareness service The Willow Project, will be highlighting the need for positive masculinity and diving into how we can bring more rural communities into the 21st century

Through a fear of not being believed, and a reluctance to damage the reputation of popular and powerful men in their neighbourhoods, victims often keep quiet. This can have a serious effect, with abuse in rural areas lasting 25% longer than in urban areas. Communities dominated by toxic masculinity are harming women, and this needs to change.  

To help bring about this change, fighting back against what Mulligan describes as “the hidden underbelly of rural communities”, Rural Action Derbyshire are supporting the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. Aiming to break down toxic masculinity and replace it with ‘positive masculinity’, which denounces stereotypes that say certain values and emotions are 'masculine' or 'feminine', this campaign will push to make rural areas more accepting, open-minded places.  

We at RAD, through our domestic abuse awareness service The Willow Project, will be highlighting the need for positive masculinity and diving into how we can bring more rural communities into the 21st century. This will build on our crucial regular work delivering awareness training, signposting victims to support services, and spreading vital information through digital channels such as TikTok and The Willow Pod.  

Yet we are always looking for more people to help. It is ultimately our volunteers, those who go out into their own communities and push to improve attitudes on the ground, that make the biggest difference. If you think you can support our work and make a change in your local area, please visit our website, or get in touch with Skye Peat on [email protected] or 07745 539445.  

Together, we can break down toxic masculinity, and create rural communities that are safe for everyone.  

The Willow Project