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Women, |
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I would like to start by saying I have the utmost respect for the support groups,
therapists, and doctors who have worked with women that have been
victimized. Their work should be admired and continued as they have helped
countless women recover from the tragedy of abuse. For over ten years, I
have researched the victimization of women. Reading statistics, reviewing
safety information, and listening to the stories women have shared with me. Although the statistics are startling, they do not
accurately describe the enormity of this issue. I have not met one woman, over 40, that has
not been confronted with some form of physical violence. For me, statistics, tends to diminish the human suffering, not
just endured by the victim, but by all of us . Victimization or abuse is not a
singular act. It is cyclical in nature and affects all of us. During my
research, I came across many "prevention measures" provided by different
organizations. I found the "prevention measures" were nothing more than
general safety tips and
information. Safety information is useful but in almost all
cases, it falls short of affecting behavior.
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As I said before. For to
long Women have been abused by street thugs, co workers, family members,
friends, boyfriends, and spouses. From mechanics, construction works, to
CEOs, even doctors, lawyers, school teachers, police officers and
judges. Abuse is indiscriminate, without regard for social class or race.
Let the truth be told, The abuse of women is everywhere. All the safety
tips in the world will not keep women from being victimized. Nor will beating up
a man in a big red suit, a karate class, or providing men sensitivity
training. One of the driving forces behind my company has
been to find an answer to a simple question "how," how to stop the abuse of
women. During this, there have been obstacles, setbacks, and
frustration with the establishment, the politics, with what women are taught at
home, society's perception of what is lady like, the lack of
Thank You,
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Effecting behavior is the only way
to that create a lifestyle
free from abuse. I also found many "prevention measures" were not very realistic. Telling young women 'alcohol impairs judgment'
this statement is obvious and does little to prevent an attack.
Statement like this will never
stop young women from going out to a clubs or parties. That's what they do, and will continue to do to meet guys or have a good
time. Yes, they should be aware of the effect and dangers associated with
alcohol, but this is not
prevention. Programs such as this are founded on the same premise as Nancy Regan's
"just say no" campaign or Rock against drunk driving. Programs
of this nature are
ineffective because they do not effectively change behavior. Prevention Education must
be informative, provide
"real" alternatives, coupled with ability. Let me give
you an example of what I mean. Years ago,
police departments began the Blood Stained Streets or Red Roads education
program. The purpose was to educate young drivers about the dangers of reckless and/or drunk driving. The graphic pictures of actual accidents, mangled bodies, and
lost lives might have been hard to stomach but reality sometimes is. Programs
like this affect change because they combined real education with graphic consequence, followed
by training. This is a far
more affective approach than Bon Jovi telling someone not to drink and
drive or telling a young women essentially don't drink and you will not get
raped. Each of us must do all we can but in order to stop this
problem. But in-order to do so. We must couple safety tips, with the real effects of abuse, begin to provide real answers, and training.
During may research I came across some very disturbing and troubling
statements provided by different organizations. They are "only the
rapist can prevent rape" and "we tell our women to submit.". The fact that
nationally recognized organizations can promote such pure idiocy has confounded
and frustrated my sense of logic and reason to the point that I needed to
understand why such educated and caring individuals would promote such
stupidity. Statements such as these can only lead to more abuse. So why do
organization take this approach? For many reason. The clinical physiologist and
therapist rule is reactive not proactive. There much needed training knowledge
is in recovery or helping someone to deal with the effect of abuse once it has
occurred. Even the rule of law enforcement and the judiciary is reactive in
nature. Yes, they provide a level of deterrence. However a crime must be
committed before they can be effective. There is also a perception in society
that a women cannot effectively fend off a male attacker and will put herself at
greater risk if she tries. This is false! Women can and do posses the physical
ability to fend of a male attacker all that is need is the right type of training .
The simple premise of these statements is also wrong. The first "only the rapist can prevent rape," forced sexual intercourse
or rape is as old as time. In many cultures (still some today) this is not
even
considered a crime but more a man's right. From the dawn of time, and until the end,
there will be men who seek to impose their will upon a women. Expecting, a rapist to stop raping, is kin to asking the lion to stop killing
their prey. They are the Predators, that is what they do. Some are
under the impression we can educate this behavior out of society. This is neither realistic nor
achievable. I once was told the story of the scorpion and the frog.
The short version is this; a scorpion asked a frog for a ride across a river.
The frog says "no way you'll sting me". The scorpion replies "No I will
not. We will both drown and die". The frog says '"Ok, get on".
Half way across the river, to the frog's dismay, the scorpion stings the frog.
The frog with his last breath says "Why? Now we are both going to die".
The scorpion with a grin says "I'm a scorpion, that is what we do".
Realize you cannot change the nature of the beast or a rapist. The second
statement "submit or
comply". in order to understand why this statement effectively puts women
in greater danger you must understand the "principle of compliance". In all cases of personnel defense the nature of the crime must be
considered. Example; a person wants your purse; give it to him, take a
mental picture, give a description to the authorities, and go get a new purse.
Until you are threatened with physical harm or loss of life there is no need for
further action. Compliance in this case is correct. In the case of
physical or sexual abuse nothing could be more harmful than teaching compliance.
The nature of the crime predetermines that grave physical and
emotional damage or loss of life will be incurred by the victim.
Teaching this simply says, to a rapist, all you need to do is attempt a rape and
you will get what you want. Additionally, it places the woman in a
position of being totally helpless, leaving her without the "choice" to exercise
her God given right to protect herself. I have come to
realize the incredible trauma incurred by women during a sexual assault. When you leave a
women without a choice, you leave them helpless and alone. You leave them at the mercy or will
of their attacker. Yes, fighting
back may further anger the attacker. It may cause further bodily harm or even
loss of the victim's life. But it may also be the victim's only means of escape
and
survival. This choice must and should be hers and hers alone. Women must
be given the '"choice," the right to choose their fate. Teaching
compliance must end for this only leads to the further victimization of women.
Women must learn them how to
fight back verbally, physically, and by any means necessary. Only this will stop the abuse. Personal protection training is 'the
empowerment of choice". It is not a karate class nor is it breaking a
board. It is learning how to "fight back" to stop the abuse and victimization of
women. Unfortunately, In lieu of a real answer to tragedies, we have
a need to say something, even if it is so terribly wrong. 
perceived
need, and society's seeming complacent tolerance of abuse.
Yes, complacent tolerance. Reporting about it, getting upset about
it isn't enough. What have you done about it? Not
surprisingly, at times women have been unresponsive to training
acting as if they to dainty and fragile or possessing the attitude
" I'll find a man to protect me". Ladies, in many cases,
it's your man that beats the crap out of you. Apologies for being
blunt but this is about the truth. So The purpose of
our foundation is the education and training of women every where
free of personal charge. The doubters may say that's
impossible or it is to daunting a task. The financial
cost of abuse to our society are staggering. A 1994 act of
Congress provided 1.8 billion dollars for the victimization of women.
In 1998, 1 billion was proposed for battered women's shelters. If
you just look at the health care cost., the financial burden on the
system each year, it's already astronomical, let alone all the other
costs incurred from the continued victimization of women The total cost
of providing training to every women in this country would be far
less than what is already being spent. For me, there is no cost to
great to stop the victimization of women. How can this program
stop the victimization of women? First, re-education. This
is not an accumulation of safety tips. This is real education that
will in effect change the belief structure and there by change behavior.
Second, training our system provides a woman the ability to "fight" to
protect herself from physical harm. While addressing the
other methods, including escape and verbal calming-dissolving
techniques. Third, application. The implementation of a
"scenario based" teaching structure the same methods used in
military and law enforcement training. A residual long term
benefit from this program is that women are the first educators of
children. As women enters into adulthood, they will begin to have
families of their own. In turn, they will pass on what they
have learned to their children. The effect will not only educated
a generation of women but a generation of children and their
children to come. This can be done the abuse can end. In order to
accomplish our goal we need your help Self Defense Concepts is a
small company, we need the capital investment, resources,
production facility's, marketing and distributing network, access to the
media outlets, government and private contribution, political and
private support. In-order to further develop, produce, market and
distribute our program until the day we are no longer needed.
