A recent survey shows that men's attitudes towards domestic violence are improving. The survey was conducted for the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters as a follow up to a study done in 2012. Executive Director of the Rowan House Emergency Shelter in High River Sherrie Botten says there was a big improvement in men's idea of gender equality.

"Probably the biggest thing that we found was an improvement in the Gender Equity Scores, and that usually reflects a movement to equality between the genders. So, that was positive to see."

Botten says the increase in the gender equity score showed a positive movement in response to subtle forms of violence, like controlling a partner's social life. She says two thirds of men agree violence has impacted women they care about and a high majority of men agree domestic violence can happen in any home, which is another improvement.

Botten, says the results revealed a shift that will help them educate men and boys on violence towards women.

"They're still saying it's best to be dealt with privately, and that they might have a lack of knowledge or skills to effectively intervene in a public situation. For us that's a positive thing, because it helps us understand how we can best help educate the population."

She says the results also showed more men think education about violence starts at home, which is a positive shift as to where men are most likely to get an understanding of what violence against women means.

Botten says the results show there is still a long way to go in some areas.

"One quarter of men always consider yelling at one's partner as a form of domestic violence. So that's a positive, but that's still only one quarter. So we found some differences there. Men were very clear in terms of what physical violence would look like and that was wrong."

She says a high number of men now agree that domestic violence can happen in any family and in domestic situations where one partner is physically violent, the violent member should leave the home. She says these results support the work Rowan House is doing in terms of their transitional housing program and show they need a place for not only women to go, but maybe for men who are leaving a violent situation as well.

Botten says it's important to note that this survey was completed while there was a high profile sexual abuse court case in the media, which could have impacted the results. She says the results are very positive in terms of the movement of men's understanding of gender equality, but we still have a ways to go and educating to be done. She says what we're hearing is that men are saying they want to find out about this and know more.