Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Juliette Grimmett" <>]

i haven't read through all of the dialogue around this, however just in
reading this response, I recognize that I have concerns with your
statement "You ABSOLUTELY do not open yourself up to the possibility of
more harm if you physically, verbally and mentally defend yourself with
good techniques and tactics."  My concern is that acts of rape, sexual
assault and relationship violence are those of taking power and control
over someone.  There is a reality in that if you try and take that power
away, there is an increase in potential additional violence - every cop
I have ever worked with has said this.  I am not saying that one should
not defend themselves, but I think that we need to be very careful when
making blanket statements like that, giving people, primarily women a
false sense of complete safety.

Juliette

"It's so liberating and important for men to understand that they can
actually be friendly to women instead of playing some gender-specific
role, and that women are in most ways the same as they are. I think that
lots of women already know that, but not so many guys do."  -my dad
8/3/07
 
Juliette Grimmett, MPH
Rape Prevention Education Coordinator
NC State University
Women's Center
3120 Talley Student Center
Campus BOX 7306
Raleigh, NC 27695-7306
Office: (919) 513-3232
24 Hour Sexual Violence Hotline: (919)618-RAPE (7273)
Fax: (919) 515-1066
email: 

website: http://www.ncsu.edu/womens_center
 


>>> "Schipper, Deborah E." 
>>> <>
10/31/2007 12:57 PM >>>

As a self-defense instructor with over 25 years of experience, I need
to
address the following comment:
And although self-defense classes are good, any one who teaches them
will tell that there is no 100% guarantee that it will save you and
you
do open yourself up to the possibility of more harm. 

You ABSOLUTELY do not open yourself up to the possibility of more harm
if you physically, verbally and mentally defend yourself with good
techniques and tactics.  Women who use physical self-defense
techniques
applied to strategic targets increase their chance of avoiding rape,
and
do NOT increase the possibility of injury.  

Of course, if anyone uses techniques that are not designed to disable
the attacker, if people flail and pound on the attacker's chest, then
that could increase the chance of a negative outcome.  

But, please do not imply that good self-defense will increase your
chance of serious injury.  What it will do is increase your chance of
surviving without being raped.  With that said, compliance with an
attacker can be a self-defense technique.  It is just not the only
technique. 

Nothing is 100% sure, but statistically, a good physical response such
as running away and yelling, can vastly improve your chances of
surviving and avoiding rape.  

Deborah Schipper
Sexual Violence Education and Support
The Student Wellness Center 
The Ohio State University
B130 Recreation and Physical Activity Center (RPAC)
337 W. 17th Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43210
(614) 292-4527
fax (614) 292-1052
e-mail  

 
www.swc.osu.edu 
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