Self-Defense or Undermining the Self? Exploring the Possibilities and Limitations of a Novel Anti-Rape Technology. (March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: White, Deborah; Rees, Gethin
• Other Names: McCaughey Martha guest-editor.; Cermele Jill guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Violence against women. Volume 20:Number 3(2014:Mar.)
• Page Start: 360
• Page End: 368
• Publication Date: 2014-03
• Subjects: rape -- resistance -- self-defense; Abused women -- Periodicals; Women -- Crimes against -- Periodicals; Violent crimes -- Periodicals; Femmes victimes de violence -- Périodiques; Femmes, Crimes contre les -- Périodiques; Crimes violents -- Périodiques; 362.8292
• DOI: 10.1177/1077801214526309
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8012

Abstract

Despite decades of feminist-inspired law reforms, rape remains highly prevalent. While many continue to fight for broad cultural and institutional changes, some argue that more immediate interventions are required. Self-defense techniques represent a key strategy of resistance to rape, and empirical evidence suggests that women's active resistance may hold a number of positive benefits. In this essay, we compare the aims and objectives of a novel anti-rape technology, known as the Rape-aXe, with traditional self-defense techniques, focusing upon the potential for both to resist individual acts of sexual aggression and, more broadly, end gendered sexual violence.