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

["Kaplan, Claire N. (cnk2r)" <>]

I don’t disagree, Adriane, however it’s easy to underestimate what survivors are capable of. I haven’t taught in years, and I spend most of my time on primary prevention as well as survivor support. I do feel, however, that resistance (because that’s what self-defense is) is an important piece of the larger puzzle. 

If you read the literature on self-defense for women (thinking specifically of Martha McCaughey and Lisa Speidel), you’ll find that women who have learned these techniques (even in a shorter term class, although you’re correct—the more the better) generally feel more empowered. They are no more likely to make rash decisions than anyone else. And yes, while the freeze response is common, especially if someone is already a survivor, having knowledge of SD has been shown to help women respond earlier in a situation, even before it becomes physically violent. They are less likely to dismiss their own feelings of discomfort and that they have every right to walk out or speak up. We are not socialized to listen to our own internal warning system, which can also lead to the freeze response. This is not victim blaming at all; this is acknowledging that we do not teach our daughters that they have the right to raise hell when they are not being treated well, and that nobody really dies from embarrassment. We deny women their own agency. 

The research is out there that physical resistance can reduce the level of lethal physical injury, and survivors who used any strategy at all, even if they are sexually assaulted in the end, recover more quickly. We also need to teach in self defense classes that complying in order to survive is not the same as helplessness. Sometimes the choices are dire: resorting to strategies in order not to be injured as much, or to get through it and then resisting after the fact through reporting or political activism. 

In solidarity,

Claire

————

Claire N Kaplan, PhD

She, her, hers

Program Director, Gender Violence and Social Change and Men’s Leadership Project

Maxine Platzer Lynn Women’s Center

The Corner Building

1400 University Ave.

PO Box 800588

Charlottesville VA 22908-0588

434-982-2774

List Manager, SAPC

@clairskyk

From: Adriane Bang <>
Date: Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at 4:41 PM
To: "Kaplan, Claire N. (cnk2r)" <>
Cc: Melissa Babb <>, Sara Peters <>, Sexual Assault Program Coordinators' Listserv <>
Subject: Re: Question regarding Flip the Script prevention education program

Hi all,

I think risk reduction can be a piece of the puzzle in responding to and ending violence, but it is not an area in which I focus. In addition to the many concerns shared here, I would also highlight that a one up program might give folks a false sense of security when we know that folks need lots of practice before a strategy becomes muscle memory and they are able to employ skills.  And, even if they are practiced, a freeze response can still be likely.

Adriane Bang, LMSW

Director, Gender Equity Center
Boise State University
1910 University Drive, Boise, ID, 83725-1335
Phone: (208) 426-4259
Website: genderequity.boisestate.edu

Pronouns: she/her/hers

On Wed, Jun 6, 2018 at 10:41 AM, Kaplan, Claire N. (cnk2r) <> wrote:

As a former self-defense instructor, both through the Southern California Rape Hotline Alliance and RAD systems, I am a huge fan of self-defense for women. From what I’ve read about Flip the Script, that’s essentially what it is. Self-defense is useful far beyond defending oneself against a perpetrator. As a self-defense student many years ago, I found what many women do: that they simply feel more empowered in their lives, and develop a much lower tolerance for all offensive, abusive and generally discriminatory insults we have to deal with on a daily basis. Most students in these classes never need to use what they learned to stop an assault; instead they find themselves speaking up more, calling bulls**t for what it is, and so on. Example: after taking my first class, I quit a toxic job. 

As an instructor I witnessed quiet women discover strengths they never knew they had, and develop a sense of personal body rights that they were denied. It was endlessly thrilling.

The key here is that self-defense programs need to be checked out thoroughly by a local feminist agency to ensure that the instructors:

• know how to address triggers and give space to survivors if they wish to share stories or talk about their fears
• are trauma-informed
• allow for extensive discussion about avoiding victim-blaming language and behaviors
• include verbal assertiveness training
• Do not employ scare tactics

Plus, the SD program has women instructors available (even if they aren’t teaching that particular class), and are willing to establish a collaborative relationship local SA/DV agencies. Some local dojos offer self-defense classes but do not have a way to offer the kind of space for conversation/discussion and assertiveness training, etc.  Collaboration with a local SA/DV agency is a great way to do this.

These are just a few pointers. There are other SD instructors on this list, so if anyone has any other suggestions, please chime in.

Good luck!

Claire

————

Claire N Kaplan, PhD

She, her, hers

Program Director, Gender Violence and Social Change and Men’s Leadership Project

Maxine Platzer Lynn Women’s Center

The Corner Building

1400 University Ave.

PO Box 800588

Charlottesville VA 22908-0588

434-982-2774

List Manager, SAPC

@clairskyk

From: <> on behalf of Melissa Babb <>
Reply-To: Melissa Babb <>
Date: Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at 7:51 AM
To: Sara Peters <>
Cc: Sexual Assault Program Coordinators' Listserv <>
Subject: Re: Question regarding Flip the Script prevention education program

I will start by saying that I had not heard of this program until just now, so I don't know everything it covers. One question I'd want to know would be how it addresses tonic immobility and/or if the survivor is incapacitated due to drugs/alcohol or can not resist/fight back for other reasons. 

On Tue, Jun 5, 2018 at 10:13 PM, Peters, Sara <> wrote:

Hi All, 

Some of our Title IX people would like to bring Flip the Script (http://www.uwindsor.ca/sexual-assault/FlipTheScript)  to campus and I have some concerns. It was featured in a NYTimes article  that made everyone here very excited. I would love some feedback if anyone has looked into this program. Best, Sara

Sara K. Peters

Director of Center for Women and Gender Equity
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

University Center 351A
615 McCallie Avenue
Department 1801
Chattanooga, TN 37403
Phone: 423-425-5605
Fax: 423-425-5649

Pronouns: she, her, hers

(For more information about inclusive language)

"You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

~ A. A. Milne

==============
To unsubscribe from this list,
send email to:


==============

--

Melissa Babb, Psy.D.

Interpersonal Violence Coordinator

Licensed Psychologist #4512

North Carolina State University Counseling Center

919.515.2423

-Confidentiality Notice -
This electronic mail transmission may include information that is confidential and exempt from disclosure under federal and/or state laws, including without limitations, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. It is the policy of the Counseling Center that the sender did not intend this transmission to be sent to or received by any unauthorized persons and is not waiving the confidentiality or privileged nature of such information. 

If you are not the intended recipient of this electronic mail transmission and thereby received this electronic mail transmission in error, please immediately delete it from your computer system without copying it. In addition, please notify the sender by reply email or by calling 919-515-2423. This way, we can correct our address for the intended recipient.

==============
To unsubscribe from this list,
send email to:


==============