By Claire Kaplan, UVA Sexual Assault Educator
as adapted by GMU Sexual Assault Services, 1995
Self-defense begins with self-respect, a knowledge of one's rights and the determination and ability to protect those rights. We can learn self-defense against verbal and physical assaults by becoming aware of the facts about violence against women, by becoming assertive and skilled in physical self- defense.
Records show, that using self-defense, women can and do resist rape attempts successfully. Three studies revealed that 44% of 600 women surveyed were able to avoid rape and to deter the attacker. Based on these studies, F.I.S.T. (Feminists in Self-Defense Training, Olympia, WA) states that there are three times as many rape attempts as completed rapes. Some women had used physical force to resist their attackers, but the majority of them had only to use verbal statements to avoid an assault. In the case of acquaintance rape (80% of all assaults), assertiveness and verbal resistance have been found to be highly effective.
Self-defense is actually practiced by many women at many levels on a daily basis. We assert ourselves with individuals who verbally harass us; we write letters to protest images of violence against women in print or in films; we often resist domestic violence by leaving the relationship and/or by taking legal action; we respond to physical assaults with physical resistance. In life-endangering situations, we make whatever self-defense choices are avail- able to ensure our survival. This may mean fighting back; it also may mean submitting to our attacker's demands. Both strategies are valid choices, as both might mean survival. It's interesting to note that many women physically resist, even without self-defense training. A study of police reports of rape in 1985 showed that not only did most women fight in some way, but their resistance seemed to lessen the severity of violence against them, and in some cases stopped the assault. But few of those women resisted initially.
Studies of women who resisted immediately upon the onset of the assault had a higher success rate of escape/avoidance than those who did not or were not able to do so.
The Question of Safety
There are many theories of how women should prevent sexual assault. In fact, only men can prevent rape and sexual assault; women can do what is possible for them to reduce their risk of assault, or learn as many options as possible to avoid or escape a dangerous situation. Traditionally, the "protection model" offered women a set of rules to follow ("lock your car door," "avoid dark areas," etc.) Feminist organizations believe that these lists are ineffective, restricting and offensive, for they imply that women cannot take care of themselves, or make logical decisions to reduce risk of assault. The most effective models are based on empowerment, which fosters the idea that women have the right to be heard and listened to; we have the right not to be touched against our will and that our rights must be respected. This method of self-defense honors women's power and strength and our ability to take care of ourselves.
The protection model also ignores the basic facts about violence against women. Two such facts, which are often not considered, are that nearly half of all rapes occur in the victim's home and up to 80% are committed by persons known to the victim.
Safety Tip 1: Awareness
Awareness means knowing the facts about violence against women, knowing our rights, being alert to our surroundings and to the people around us. This is the first component of self-defense.
Safety Tip 2: Intuition
Our intuition or "gut instinct" is one of our most important self-defense assets. If our intuition tells us that something is wrong, it's important not to ignore it for it is the most valuable gauge of danger we have. Instead of ignoring these internal warning signs by trying to convince ourselves we are imagining things, it's best to acknowledge them and act upon them, either by leaving the situation or doing whatever possible to lessen the danger.
Safety Tip 3: Assertiveness
The Queen's Bench Foundation study showed that of the 112 cases they reviewed, 70% of the attacks had been initiated with a casual conversation. The attackers were "testing" to see how compliant or accommodating these women were. We do not need to stop and be polite when someone asks a question. It's OK to keep our distance, keep our eyes on him and answer "I don't know" or not to answer at all. Many women have a hard time doing this, but remember: nobody ever really died from embarrassment.
Once we are able to detect and acknowledge the warning signs of a dangerous situation, we must be able to act assertively and quickly. Most of us didn't learn assertiveness techniques as children, and we are now faced with learning these skills as adults. What we learned was how to behave in a ladylike way: polite, nice, nurturing, caring more for the man's feelings than our own. Yet ladylike behavior feeds into the view of women as helpless and vulnerable. A different ideal of behavior is to reclaim the term "womanlike." A woman is an adult, self-reliant, capable of many things, including defending not only her children, but herself, and demands respect. Others will only learn to respect us when we learn to respect ourselves.
Safety Tip 4: Body language
An important factor in risk reduction is body language. The way we carry ourselves tells people a lot about how we feel. Muggers and other assailants are more likely to select as victims those people who appear distracted, unaware of their surroundings, unbalanced or awkward, and who try to "shrink" themselves instead of taking up their space in a womanlike way. People who feel good about themselves are more likely to stand straight, walk with a firm step and make eye contact with others. This often "puts off" potential assailants who prefer passive victims.
Safety Tip 5: Physical Self-Defense
Women do have the power and ability to fight back-even those with physical limitations or developmental disabilities. Appropriate self-defense embodies the philosophy of empowerment. Physical techniques are not based on strength vs. strength, but use women's physical assets against an assailant's weak- nesses. It involves using voice, kicks, punches, releases and works on getting students "psyched up" to defend themselves.
Physical self-defense may not require perfect technique, but successful defense does need 100% commitment and spirit. Without those ingredients, no technique, no matter how perfectly practiced, can be fully effective. That's why attitude is so important. Believe that you have the right to defend your- self and say no.
Self-defense instructors ideally are women (as role models) yet many men are sensitive and supportive instructors as well. When looking for a class, find out if the instructor has a working relationship with the local rape crisis center and if s/he is trained in rape crisis intervention. When in doubt, ask Sexual Assault Services or your local rape crisis center for referrals to classes.
Where Can I Find a Class? The following places can refer you to appropriate self-defense classes, and let you know about upcoming workshops/courses:
Sexual Assault Services: (703) 993-4364
George Mason Police Department: (703) 993-2810
Vienna Women's Center: (703) 281-2657
Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, 1976, Queen's Bench Foundation Study. McIntyre, Jennie J., "Victim Response to Rape: Alternative Outcome." Bart, Pauline, "Avoiding Rape: A Study of Victims and Avoiders," National Center for the Prevention & Control of Rape.
Grayson, Betty and Morris 1. Stein, Journal of Communication, Winter 1981,31:1, p. 68.
This information sheet is a compilation of information from various self-defense instructors, rape crisis centers and the work of many researchers and other anti-sexualassault workers. Certain portions have been reprinted with permission by the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women.
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