“I Can Take Care of Myself”

Abstract

Feminist self-defense classes teach skills for preventing and responding to violence. However, self-defense training has many other positive effects on women’s lives—effects that themselvesmay reduce women’s risk of assault. In this article the author offers evidence of these effects drawn from a longitudinal study of self-defense training. In addition to increased confidence in potentially dangerous situations, self-defense students reported more comfortable interactions with strangers, acquaintances, and intimates; more positive feelings about their bodies; increased self-confidence; and transformed beliefs about women, men, and gender. The author suggests that self-defense classes are life transforming because they address three issues central to women’s lives: fear of sexual assault, self, and gender.