This London Centre for Personal Safety project is inspired by, and a tribute to the work of Denise Caignon and Gail Groves, edts. of "Her Wits About Her: Self-Defence Success Stories by Women" (1987), which illustrate the power, courage and ability of women resisting all kinds of challenges to their safety, from sexual harassment, to life-threatening situations. And to Pauline Bart and Patricia O'Brien study 'Stopping Rape: Successful Survival Strategies" (1985), which tell us how to maximise our chances of avoiding rape when attacked. These powerful works cuts through ideas that women are destined to be victims of male violence, give us inspiration and the belief that we can protect ourselves.
National Crime Surveys (BCS) have consistently shown that women report greater fear of crime, and that fear of sexual assault and rape is widespread . Other studies show that women constantly plan for and think about their safety, to address a range of behaviours that makes them feel unsafe in public and in private.
Women strive to manage safer lives without the benefit of correct information about what works best to prevent and stop assault. They are targets for stereotypical safety advice and interventions that are not gender aware or evidence based, and which fail to take into consideration women’s experiences. There is also widespread belief that women are not capable of taking care of themselves.
This blog collects sucessful stories of resistance, that women and girls have shared with The London Centre for Personal Safety about the creative and ingenuous ways they used to PREVENT and SURVIVE VIOLENCE.
You are invited to comment on these stories and to write your own story of RESISTANCE to: lcps@lcps.demon.co.uk
We define as successful resistance any action you have taken to manage, cope with, avoid, prevent and escape all sorts of threats, for example: verbal abuse, threatening behaviour, sexual harassment, rape, stalking, physical violence.
We are a frontline service with over twenty years experience of providing personal safety and self-defence training. We aim to prevent and reduce violence and the fear of violence, and develop people’s ability to respond positively to threats to their safety.
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