Thirty men gathered at Premium Sports Bar in Mitchells Plain on Saturday to take part in the Rise Up Against Gender-based Violence campaign.
The campaign is run by a group of women who are taking the message about putting an end to gender-based violence to men in pubs and shebeens.
Director Vanita Daniels says the drive aims to equip men with techniques to avoid violence in the home.
“We go to the shebeens where most of the men enjoy their break away from home,” she says.
During the sessions, facilitators offer talks on issues of consent during sex, maintaining healthy relationships and anger management.
Clyde Collins, 36, attended the event and says he learned a lot from the discussions on the role of a man and a woman and how misinformation and “ou gelooftes” contributed to tiffs.
“We’ve all been misinformed because of ou gelooftes or indoctrinated where we carry on traditions of ‘this is how my parents did it’, the disagreement from opposite (views) and that’s how physical outbreaks start.”
The men were given scenarios and asked to discuss the outcomes using various choices.
Clyde adds: “The men were positive, the setting was neutral, in order to get a clear understanding of what’s really happening and how these things are created.
“It stems from disagreement, lack of communication, false expectations, but there is also this constant competition between partners.”
Pub owner William Goliath said: “Distell partnered with Rise Up to create awareness dialogues in and around taverns and pubs.
“They selected Premium as one of their venues and asked us to get approximately 60 males to engage in the session.
“Plus-minus 30 people were in attendance and the interaction went very well The guys later spoke about forming a men’s social group so that we can continue the conversation.”
Grant Adams from Distell said: “What an awesome event hosted by Premium Sports Bar in conjunction with Rise Up and Distell.
“The Tavern Dialogues gave the Rise Up team a chance to engage and interact with men to create awareness around GBV.
“This workshop was well received by the patrons and the request is already there for follow-up sessions.”