A round logo. The inner circle is orage with text that reads Make Your Move! Below the text is an open mouth with blue lips. A blue border around this has text that reads End Sexual Violence.
 

Make Your Move! Missoula

Make Your Move! is a coalition of community organizations and stakeholders who are committed to ending relationship violence. The coalition currently consists of members from:

  • Missoula City-County Health Department

  • YWCA Missoula

  • UM Student Advocacy Resource Center (SARC)

  • Missoula Interfaith Collaborative

Mission

Make Your Move! is an innovative campaign designed to engage men and women as allies to prevent sexual violence in the greater Missoula area. This multi-faceted, inter-agency approach creates long-term, positive change by changing the beliefs and behaviors that support sexual violence, thus creating a safer and healthier community.

Guiding Principles

Positive messaging

Research shows that the most effective marketing messages appeal to the target audience’s core values, enabling them to feel strong and capable rather than ashamed by their behavior.

Engaging bystanders

Both women and men are more receptive to messages that engage them as helpers rather than potential perpetrators or victims.

Sexual predators intentionally target vulnerable women and are not receptive to anti-rape messages. However, research indicates they seek the approval and validation of their friends. Those friends can help create positive outcomes.

 

Changing social norms

Research shows that violence against women is directly linked to sexist beliefs (rape myths) and acceptance of sexual aggression from peers (i.e., a “rape supportive culture.”) All Make Your Move! initiatives attempt to shift these attitudes and beliefs while creating a new “norm” of community members actively working to prevent sexual violence.

 

Make Your Move! Missoula is a project of the Healthy Relationships Program at the Missoula City-County Health Department. For more information, please contact Erica Ritsema at eritsema@missoulacounty.us or 406-258-3889.