NCJ Number
55612
Date Published
1979
Length
186 pages
Annotation
THIS WORKBOOK FOR WOMEN ON RAPE PREVENTION AND DEFENSE AIMS TO CHANGE THE REFLEX OF FEAR INTO ACTION BY PREPARATION AND PRACTICE OF VERBAL, ATTITUDE, AND PHYSICAL SELF-DEFENSE AND ATTENTION TO COMMONSENSE.
Abstract
SOCIETAL BELIEFS THAT WOMEN WHO ARE RAPED WANT IT OR PROVOKE IT, THAT ONLY MEN CAN BE VIOLENT, OR THAT RAPISTS ARE SEXUALLY UNFULFILLED MEN WANTING TO SATISFY THEIR APPETITES ARE DISCREDITED. NOT ALL RAPE CAN BE PREVENTED, AND VICTIMS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE TRULY THE VICTIMS AND THEIR BEING RAPED DOES NOT LESSEN THEIR VALUE AS PERSONS. THE PICTURE OF THE RAPIST RUNS ALONG A CONTINUUM--FROM THE MAN KNOWN TO THE VICTIM WHO SUDDENLY ATTACKS TO THE UNKNOWN SURPRISE ATTACKER. EXERCISES ARE PRESENTED FOR DEVELOPING A POSITIVE AND STRONG SELF-CONCEPT, DEFENSIVE BODY LANGUAGE, ABILITY TO MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT, AN ASSERTIVE TONE OF VOICE AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE, QUICK DECISIONMAKING CAPABILITY IN TROUBLESOME SITUATIONS, AND HOSTILE AND ASSERTIVE RESPONSES. THEY ARE MEANT TO COMBAT THE CONDITIONING OF AMERICAN WOMEN TO BE POLITE, TIMID, AND COMPASSIONATE EVEN IN ADVERSE SITUATIONS AND COULD HELP THEM WARD OFF RAPISTS LOOKING FOR EASY TARGETS. PHYSICAL SELF-DEFENSE STRATEGIES HAVE A PRIMARY GOAL--TO CAUSE PHYSICAL PAIN TO THE ATTACKER. PHYSICAL DEFENSE HAS THREE BASIC COMPONENTS: (1) AN ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED RESPONSE TO ATTACK, (2) A COMBINATION OF EFFECTIVE TARGET AND TECHNIQUE, AND (3) TRUST IN INTUITION. THE ATTACKER'S MOST VULNERABLE PARTS ARE DISCUSSED. VARIOUS TECHNIQUES FOR USING BODY PARTS AS WEAPONS ARE COVERED (E.G., THE PALM-HEEL STRIKE, FINGER AND THUMB GOUGE, AND KNEE RAISE) AS WELL AS COMBINATION TECHNIQUES (E.G., FRONT AND SIDE GRASPS, HAIR GRABS, AND CHOKE HOLDS). WOMEN ARE ADVISED TO WEAR SHOES AND CLOTHING THAT ALLOW MOBILITY AND ACCESSORIES NOT EASILY GRABBED OR USED AS CHOKING DEVICES. RAPE PREVENTION STRATEGIES THAT OFFER POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES RATHER THAN PROHIBITIONS ARE EMPHASIZED. NOTES ARE INCLUDED ON STUDYING MARTIAL ARTS AND RAPE PREVENTION, PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATE THE TEXT, AND THE APPENDIX CONTAINS INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING THIS WORKBOOK WITH SPECIAL GROUPS--ADOLESCENTS, LESBIANS, BATTERED WIVES, PREVIOUS RAPE VICTIMS, AND OLDER, BLACK, HISPANIC, RURAL, WHITE, AND ASIAN WOMEN. (DAG)