sam@phs.UUCP (Sherry Marts) (12/16/84)
I found the article about women's reactions to "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" (which I've never read) interesting considering the experiences I've had in participating in self-defense classes. For many women, the first step in learning self-defense is convincing themselves that they are worth defending. In the case of a woman who has been abused as a child or spouse, the "I'm bad and I deserve whatever I get" attitude is understandable. But many women who have not suffered such abuse still carry within them the notion that if they are assaulted it is somehow their fault, that it is inevitable, and that they are not worth fighting for. The experience, or simply the though of being assualted will always raise strong emotions; what has amazed me is the number of women who don't feel ANGER. I've heard a lot of arguments over the value of self-defense courses. If the only good that comes out of such courses is an increase in self-respect, a change in a woman's attitude about herself, then I think they're worthwhile. Sherry Marts
features@ihuxf.UUCP (M.A. Zeszutko) (12/18/84)
Sherry Marts brings up an interesting point here: that the women who attend self-defense classes have to first learn that they are worth defending! Chimera (a Chicago-based self-defense group) came to Bell Labs to give a one-evening presentation on self-defense. The instructor said something along those same lines. Too often we don't feel we're worthy enough to repel attack. The instructor went on to say that we *can* get angry if someone tries to attack someone close to us (mother, sister, daughter, close friend) and that if we can just imagine ourselves as one of those people, we can then use that energy to defend ourselves. I do find it easier to defend other people than to defend myself, as a rule. I think the Chimera instructor was correct. -- aMAZon @ AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL; ihnp4!ihuxf!features "Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night."