Self-Defense for Women: Translating Theory into Practice

Abstract

As rates of violent crime have risen, grassroots women's organizations, hospitals, and other community agencies have begun to respond to the needs of the victims of violent assault. Currently, many communities across the country have some type of service, such as rape assistance programs, for victims of violent crimes. Unfortunately, however, programs designed to prevent women from becoming the victims of sexual assault and other violent crimes have developed more slowly. In order to avoid being victimized, women have traditionally been encouraged to limit their mobility and to depend upon men, large barking dogs, burglar alarms, chemical sprays, and other external agents for protection. The rise of interest in selfdefense for women represents a significant shift in approach, both because self-defense programs are aimed at crime prevention and because they encourage women to be active participants in their own safety and defense. Although this new interest in self-defense is encouraging indeed, there is also some reason for concern. Many of the self-defense programs currently offered across the country do not adequately take into account the particular needs of women. It is common for self-defense courses to place most of their emphasis on physical skills, without demonstrating any real understanding of traditional female gender-role socialization and how this inhibits a woman from effectively acting in her own defense. It is not enough to teach women how to defend themselves. They must also be trained and motivated to overcome socialized tendencies toward passivity, helplessness, low self-esteem, and self-sacrifice.