"There are many great empowerment-based self-defense classes that can give
women strategies for avoiding, interrupting,
and stopping harassment. In Chicago, Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense
Center, NFP and IMPACT Chicago are great resources. For all the men who
wish to be allies to women who experience
harassment, I'd suggest reading a bit about how to do so in a way that doesn't dis-empower women." Marie O/Brien
Marie suggests reading Colorado State University Men and Bystander Intervention: "Because most
perpetrators of gender violence are men, many bystander intervention programs
focus on the ways that men can intervene
when they see other men
committing gender violence. This can be an effective
approach but it’s important to take masculine socialization into consideration as to not encourage a
strategy that will cause more harm. Most
men have been socialized to protect women … and it’s not a bad thing
necessarily to want to make sure
people are safe (regardless of gender)…Men often make the mistake of assuming that women need the help of
men. Sometimes women would appreciate
some help, other times it’s unwarranted… The organization Men Can Stop Rape
offers some suggestions for men
who want to intervene in a way that doesn’t take agency away from the person on whose
behalf you’re considering intervening.
Note that these tactics involve things like checking in with that person, using low-key
methods like calling her cell phone, and
generally keeping the intervention fairly covert as to not escalate the situation."
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