Sexism - Antisexism Movements

Antisexism Movements

In Ecuador, the Pink Helmets (or Cascos Rosas), created in May 2011, by Freddy Caleron and Damian Valencia, both 18, sought to unite young men against machismo. The Pink Helmets published a manual suggesting 30 actions aimed at putting an end to violence in society, in relationships, within families, and among friends. The Pink Helmets' creators and participating members, who call themselves "neomasculinos" and are 15–20 years old, visit schools and streets to give talks and take part in festivals, such as the Quito Fest, in collaboration with UN Women (part of the United Nations), to raise awareness on violence and on the movement against it. Chauvinism and violence are common in Ecuador, with 40% of children under age 15 saying that they have witnessed acts of violence at home. According to the National Plan for the Eradication of Gender Violence of the Government of Ecuador, 80% of women have been victims of violence at least once and 21% of children and adolescents have been sexually abused. However, no official data provide a concrete number of women who have been killed or injured by men. The overall movement aims to promote gender equality, eliminate gender violence against women, and encourage "dialogue of respect between men and women from adolescence without hesitation to criticize sexist concepts that live in their culture".