I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand. – Susan B. Anthony
Will you be able to protect yourself or will you need someone to protect you? Even old ladies need to be ready for anything, from muggers to the zombie apocalypse! 😉
What does that mean?
While this quote is from a famous suffragette, I believe it is still applicable today. In the time of the saying, women were expected to be quiet and domestic, tending the home-fires, as it were. They were also expected to remain at home where they were safe, which was often used as an excuse to keep women home.
If a woman has the ability to defend herself, possessing both the skills and attitudes needed, they can be a good deal more independent. Instead of being passed from the protective custody of their father to that of their husband, women could exist on their own. This was a big part of the suffragette movement, to help women become the equals of men.
Why is self defense important?
It’s true, the streets have rarely been safe for the unaware people, as the two-legged predators have always existed, and probably will always exist. While women have been traditionally cast as the most vulnerable, I believe it is as much our mythological view of women as much as any biological fact.
I will pretend that we can all agree to the proposition that anyone attacking you, and putting your life at risk, has lost any claim to a right of safety from your defense of self. There are people out there who will estimate that they can take what is yours with little or no risk. The only question is can you convince them otherwise, without engaging in combat, or if it comes to combat, are you willing to win?
Where can I apply this in my life?
By being able to keep the predators at bay, protection provided by another is no longer needed. That is the ‘self’ in self defense. Yes, being part of a group is a natural form of defense against predators, but so is awareness of your surroundings (and those lurking therein). Nature’s herbivores have developed both aspects to a tremendous degree.
While women are considered easier targets, self defense is for everyone who is determined not to be a victim. Even big guys like myself take self defense to be able to protect their family, or even to be able to have the skill to stop a fight while minimizing the chance of serious injuries to any party involved.
While there are many schools of martial arts, both armed and unarmed, the root of what form of self defense is best for you is based on your goals. If you consider yourself to be mostly safe, you might find the years of training necessary to attain the proficiency and the award of a black belt to be more than you are willing to endure.
Others might prefer to obtain a weapon with which to defend themselves, as weapons are excellent force multipliers. Unfortunately, the bad guys figured that out a long time ago, so they may well be armed. While many immediately think of firearms, there are weapons that range from guns, to chemical sprays, to simple key-chain accessories. Also understand that the use of a weapon requires a non-trivial level of training. For deadly weapons, it is even more so.
Even an action that is as simple as showing a weapon to your attacker may scare them off without anyone being injured. However, in some cases it may serve instead to escalate the situation. Be sure you’re comfortable with where that may lead before travelling that path.
Again, it comes back to what you value. If you think the only concern is a simple robbery, and you carry little of value, and stay in safe areas, you might not need much to feel safe. Others may be unwilling to part with anything they have, or may live or work in very dangerous areas.
How much time are you willing to put into training (and maintaining your training, don’t take a class and then never practice)? How much money will it cost? What are your physical skills (coordination, strength, speed, etc)? All of these factors will also be part of the decision about your self defense.
Your ability to observe your surroundings is probably the most important skill you can develop. No criminal wants to be recognised by their victim, or chance that they will be able to give an accurate description. By being aware of your surroundings, you are not as easy a target for a predator as the person with their eyes down, listening to their music, or reading a book.
Are you willing to depend on someone else for your protection, or are you willing to put in the time and effort to learn how to protect yourself? Only you can answer that question. And you will need to ask the question each time your life changes. Something as simple as a job in a different part of town might change your mind.
From: Twitter, @CupOfQuotes
confirmed at : http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/susanbant148671.html
Photo by Photos by Mavis
Happy Birthday to Susan B. (Brownell) Anthony, born 15 February, 1820.
