Words and Self-defence.

For my CSL placement I am updating the statistic for the Sexual Assault Centre (SAC) training manual. A portion of the manual that I am not editing, but that I have read, relates closely to the Marcus reading titled “Fighting Bodies, Fighting words: A Theory and Politics of Rape prevention.   Basically the section of the manual that I am referring to states that language reinforces gender “norms” and the way words are used “perpetuates issues such as sexual violence”. We have also learned that sexual violence (rape) is “scripted” (Marcus, 1992). Marcus (1992), argues that we use rape as a language and there is a standard story (as we mentioned in class) that a women is the standard “passive” victim and the man is the aggressor (or subject of violence).

Therefore, as mentioned by the SAC manual and by the article by Marcus (1992) we have a language that perpetuates sexual violence. The SAC manual states that using “slang words” like “fag” or “cry baby” provide further evidence that we live in a patriarchal society which is the reason that our society has “high rates of sexual assault”. I would argue using “slang words” perpetuate the rape scripts (1992). Therefore, this rape script “inscribes” the inequalities on men’s and women’s bodies. These inequalities are then reinforced by phrases or words that are intentionally, or unintentionally meant to demean and break down a person or a group.

After class I was really struggling with how to interrupt the ways that rape is reinforced or talked about through scripts. I think feminist self defense is a valid way to do that. When I started reading the article by Cahill titled “In Defense of Self-Defense” I felt conflicted. Cahill (2009) argues that feminist self defense contributes to the interruption of rape culture which partially defines what femininity is or supposed to be. Self defense classes de-naturalize and deconstruct what is viewed in society to be naturally feminine and therefore “rape prone”. I support this aspect of self-defense 100 %. I like that these classes are a vehicle for spreading awareness of sexual violence and assist women to be comfortable in their own bodies. My anxiety about the whole concept falls in line with the Sexual Assault Centre’s concern. Dr. Gotell mentioned in class that the Sexual Assault was not in favor of self-defense classes because this could be reinforcing that women have anything to do with the problem of sexual assault. I agree with Cahill (2009) that these classes are important is disrupting the view that rape is a “given” part for being a women, however, I am conflicted about women being told there is ANYTHING that they can do about the issue of sexual violence, because of the possibility of shifting the blame away from the perpetrator and on to the survivor. I’m more on the side of the fence which is in favor of these classes, however, I do have that anxiety about the possibility of placing any sort of responsibility on the (potential) survivor of sexual assault.