The moderators described a comprehensive constellation of community strategies for preventing sexual assault. I'd like to talk about one approach that is exciting and effective (and that I've chosen for my work): teaching women and girls self-defense.
Most people think of self-defense as what you do when a stranger jumps out of a dark alley and attacks you. But as we all know, the greatest threat is not strangers in dark alleys. And there is a lot more to self-defense than knowing a few good strikes or how to get out of a hold (although we cover that too). I define self-defense as anything you do to keep yourself safe (including prevention and avoidance, like listening to your instincts and picking your friends wisely); to interrupt abuse or assault (whether physical, emotional, or psychic); or to take care of yourself and recover from violence or trauma. Our programs work on all these levels. Wherever a student is when she comes in, she moves further. Maybe she becomes more assertive. Maybe she learns how to set limits. Everyone becomes more confident. Everyone has less fear. Everyone connects with their personal power. We approach the training in many ways: * Facts and research about gender-based violence dispel myths, usually reduce fear, and help women focus on where real dangers lie; * Prevention and awareness skills help students minimize their chances of being targeted; * Communication skills and verbal self-defense strategies help women learn how to say what they want, how to stand up for themselves, and how to interrupt an interaction before it becomes physically threatening; * Physical skills (effective ways to hit an attacker) give women a sense of their own power and boost their confidence. Students learn and practice these skills through role-plays, drills, exercises, discussions and more. By watching each other, brainstorming, and supporting each other, they expand their visions of how it is possible to be in the world. As a result of this training, women take more positive risks with their lives. They say what they think. They go after what they want. They help raise awareness about VAW and help define it in their communities as unacceptable. They define for themselves what their rights are and they stand up for themselves. They walk away from unhealthy relationships. And they do prevent, avoid, and end attacks. These individual transformations affect communities in some of the ways the moderators mentioned. Students who have taken holistic self-defense classes model confidence to their friends and coworkers. They raise girls who are more assertive and boys who respect women's rights. Directly or indirectly, they communicate to abusers, attackers (or even those who unconsciously by their silence support women's oppression) that the power associated with VAW is no longer a given. Self-defense graduates are also more likely to become advocates: to write a letter to the editor, to vote for politicians who care about laws and services affecting women, to organize a neighborhood safety campaign, to reach out to a neighbor, etc. I know all this because I've seen it--in my own life and in the lives of my students. I often hear from former students--a week, a year or more after a class--who call to tell me how they handled a situation differently than they would have before they took self-defense. This is what I love about teaching. It is true prevention. And the results are profound and instantaneous. I was one of the founders of DC's shelter for battered women-more power to those who can work in a crisis environment. I've also worked extensively in public education efforts on VAW, and I believe that we will, in the long-term, change attitudes and behaviors. But self-defense brings immediate changes in the work to end VAW. I am not alone in this. There are women all over the U.S.--and the world--doing this work. We could do a lot more, but I do believe we are changing the world. Lauren DC Self-Defense/GIRLSPEAK _____________________________________ Lauren Taylor: EditAce [EMAIL PROTECTED] phone: 301.608.3708 fax: 301.608.3709 _______________________________________ ***End-violence is sponsored by UNIFEM and receives generous support from ICAP*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe end-violence OR type: unsubscribe end-violence Archives of previous End-violence messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/end-violence/hypermail/
