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Path: utzoo!watmath!wateng!jamcmullan
From: jamcmullan@wateng.UUCP (Judy McMullan)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: using public anger to avoid attacks/harrassment
Message-ID: <1787@wateng.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 20-Dec-84 14:41:35 EST
Article-I.D.: wateng.1787
Posted: Thu Dec 20 14:41:35 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 21-Dec-84 01:18:16 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 53

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 >	I guess I was unclear in distinguishing "potential attack" and
 >"actual attack". If you will recall, I was responding to an article about the
 >*fear* of being accosted, not about actual harassment. I agree that anger
 >is a proper response to "the leers and the brushings-against [if intentional]
 >and the dirty and suggestive comments, and worse." I think that it is
 >counter-productive, however, as a "defense" against males whose only
 >threat is their proximity.
 >	I retract my last sentence, and will instead propose a better
 >solution: Take a self-defense class. This will not only help against
 >an actual attack, it will increase your self-confidence and thereby lessen
 >your fears (if you have them) of the possibility of attack. Not a complete
 >solution to the problem, I agree, but better than replacing constant
 >fear with constant anger.

 >-  From the Crow's Nest  -			Kenn Barry

A self-defense course may prove helpful if one is physically attacked, eg.
for robbery or rape (or "fun").

There is no self-defense course that will show one how to protect oneself
against being hooted at by men in the street, etc. The techniques I mentioned
before have worked better than others.

I see the lewd comment as a prelude to worse things if I cannot deflect it
quickly. I practise NOT letting men catch my eye (I admit it -- I have not
yet learned to fear women & I am MUCH more relaxed in the company of strange
women) in public. I practise looking hostile if I find some guy looking me
over. I get away if someone starts touching or making suggestive remarks.
I have always been able to get away before things have gotten really bad (so
far).

What I am trying to say is that the first line of self-defense is to avoid
the larger physical attack by avoiding the verbal & small physical attacks.
A self-defense course is no good for that. Actually the small attacks are bad
enough to endure time after time. I wish there WERE a good way to stop them.

How about it people?? I don't expect most of you make sexual suggestions to
women in the streets (or elsewhere)!! BUT almost EVERYBODY has been around when
some jerk HAS. Ever see one of these types stopped cold?? What makes them clam
up?? A smart retort?? A pitiful sight (maybe if we all went about with leg
braces they'd feel bad about being mean)?? I know it's not an ugly woman
because I have been in groups where the worst-looking woman gets the most
abuse (unfortunately sometimes the worst-looking woman was ME). Maybe a
situation exists where the man no longer feels the confidence to be hostile?
(for instance, his dentist might have the drill in her hand).
Maybe something makes them empathize?? (for instance, he might have recently
received a sexual advance from a man in the subway).
There must be stories and I'll bet a lot of them are funny.

   --from the sssstickkky keyboard of JAM
   ...!{ihnp4|clyde|decvax}!watmath!wateng!jamcmullan