Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!mcnc!duke!phs!sam From: sam@phs.UUCP Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Self defense and self-image Message-ID: <2222@phs.UUCP> Date: Wed, 11-Apr-84 16:55:52 EST Article-I.D.: phs.2222 Posted: Wed Apr 11 16:55:52 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 13-Apr-84 00:10:36 EST Lines: 44 --------- I recently spoke with some women who live in a neighborhood which is currently being terrorized by a rapist -there have been 5 reported and probably a total of 20 rapes in their neighborhood in the past 5 weeks. We were discussing ways of coping both with this specific threat and with the threat of rape and assault in general. One comment I made with which the others agreed was that until attacking a woman is perceived to be as dangerous to the attacker as attacking a man, victimization of women would continue. Of course, men are still attacked on the streets, but I think it is reasonable to assume that the number of attacks involving a male attacker and a female victim is far greater than either those involving a male attacker and a male victim, or a female attacker and a male victim. Women are viewed by others and by themselves as easy marks. If we learn to defend ourselves on the streets, we can work toward changing that image. Which brings me to the real point of this article - the image of women as victims. What if the victim in the New Bedford gang rape case had SUCCESSFULLY fought off her attackers and gone home. How much publicity would that event have generated? Would there have been national headlines: "Would-be victim vanquishes attackers", "Woman escapes gang rape on pool table"? I'm not trying to say that the news media are conspiring to keep women off the streets at night - after all, they don't print stories about men escaping from attacks either. However, this selective reporting serves to reinforce the image of woman as victim: it's going to happen to you, too, sweetie, and there's not a lot you can do about it. There ARE success stories, women DO fight off attackers and survive. The local women's karate association has a collection of such stories which they display at their self-defense workshops. They describe situations ranging from a pat on the behind by a stranger on a bus to life-threatening attacks in the home, in which women (in the majorty of cases, not trained in martial arts) successfully challenged the attacker and survived the assault. Out of over a hundred such stories, only about 5 had been reported in the press, only 2 received large headlines. The rest had been reported in newsletters from women's self-defense groups and rape crisis centers, or martial arts magazines. Does anyone else share my belief that one sure way to reduce the incidence of rape and assault on women is to convince would-be attackers that they are likely to face a fight? How would you respond to increased media coverage of women's survival stories? Would you consider writing your local newspapers and television stations to let them know how you feel? Sherry Marts !decvax!duke!phs!sam