Women's Self Defense
1.3 sexual assaults occur every minute in the U.S. Women are 10 times more likely
than men to be victims of sexual assault. 22% of all women say that they have been forced to do
sexual things against their will. 1 in 3 sexual assault victims are under the age of 12 and
convicted rape and sexual assault offenders report that 2/3 of their victims were under the
age of 18. Among victims age 18 - 29, two thirds had a prior relationship with the rapist
(National Crime Victimization Survey, Criminal Victimization, 1996). 18% of women who reported
being raped before age 18 said they were also raped after age 18 (Violence Against Women Survey, 1998).
In 1997, 68.3% were perpetrated by someone who knew the victim.
78% of women raped or physically assaulted since they turned 18 were assaulted by a current
or former husband, live-in partner or date. 17% were victimized by an acquaintance, 9% by a
relative other than a husband and only 14% were assaulted by a stranger (National Violence
Against Women Survey, 1998). Rape and sexual assault are not crimes that only occur in dark
alleys or in deserted areas at night. As a matter of fact 6 out of 10 sexual assaults occur
in the home of the victim or the home of a friend, neighbor or relative. 43.4% of rapes and
sexual assaults occur between the hours of 6PM and midnight and about two thirds occur between
the hours of 6 PM and 6 AM (Greenfeld, 1997). Rape is a violent crime which has many severe
effects on the victim both long term and short term. For example, 36% women who are injured
during a rape require medical attention and up to 40% obtain STDs. The consequences of rape
are not always physical though, and are not always immediate. Overall, rape has the highest
annual victim cost of any crime. The annual victim costs are $127 billion (excluding child
sex abuse cases). This is followed by assault at $93 billion per year, murder (excluding
arson and drunk driving) at $61 billion and child abuse at $56 billion per year (Miller, 1996).
Unfortunately, this list of statistics goes on and on.
There is no reason to live in fear of crime and violence. There is however
cause to take reasonable precautions and in doing so, you will have prevented yourself from
being the victim. This course teaches self defense concepts from a foundational level,
teaching that 90% of self-defense is awareness, risk reduction, and avoiding confrontation
and only 10% is physical. Personal safety can be viewed as a pyramid. Each level not only
increases your safety, but builds upon the level beneath to create a cohesive and consistent
whole. The course focuses on both mental and physical preparedness and provides women with
solid public safety-awareness information to incorporate into their everyday lives. You will
learn the primary considerations for protecting yourself in almost every situation, whether
at home, traveling, or a night on the town. You must accept that danger is prevalent and
seriously consider the risks to actions you take. Through environmental awareness and proper
education and training, you can protect yourself without physical confrontation in most
instances. But, if you need to, you will have the skills protect yourself physically as well.
This course will teach you how and is designed to work with your lifestyle, not change it.
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