56 Planet of the Arts / March 1997 by Christa Kaufmann oth this term and last, Emily Carr Institute has offered a course in self-defense for all women attend- ing and working at the school. The course was free thanks to funding from the Student's Union and Emily Carr Safer Campus Committee. Last semester | was one of the 20 women students that participated in the course. | grew up in a very small town where the violence and crime rate was relatively low. | never really felt that my safety was in jeopardy even when | walked the streets alone late at night. It took me a while to get used to living in Vancouver and having to.take extra measures to look out for my safety. To help adapt to my new surroundings | felt it would be beneficial for me to take a women’s assertiveness and self-defense course. | wasn’t sure what to expect when | entered the class; | have never taken such a course before. Many people think, as | did, that self-defense mainly involves learn- ing various physical moves in order to harm your attacker. Some of this is involved, but there is also a whole other aspect to self- defense. In the first session, we weren’t even taught any physical moves or escape methods. We learned that many dangerous situations can be diffused by communicating assertively by verbal means and body language. One of the coping skills we learned is looking directly into the assailant’s eyes, standing your ground, and stating calmly but firmly that you do not like how they are treating you. | feel this can usually convince the person to leave you alone. We learned how to be strong, assertive, and to recognize that we do not have to take any abuse or actions towards us that make us feel uncomfortable. Sometimes people feel shy, and believe that the drunk guy in the bar who is aggressively hitting on them will leave them alone if they become child-like and recoil. Becoming shy and quiet in a situation only serves to make the abuser feel more powerful. On the other hand, if you act like an aggressive “bitch” towards the perpetrator, it may only cause him to become angry, and more likely to cause you physical harm. The second class focused on the physical defense skills one could use on an attacker if the situation had escalated to violence. The form of self-defense taught in this course is not “beating the crap” out of the person, but striking their vulnerable areas in order to disable them, or cause them enough pain to loosen their grip, allowing you to flee. Another common myth that people believe is taught in women’s self-defense courses is that when being attacked, one should always go for the person’s genital area. Men, anticipating this, are well pre- pared to protect this sensitive area of their body. We learned this is not the only way, and there are many other vulnerable areas of the body one could attack to disable the assailant. We also practiced mock assaults on one another in order to get hands-on experi- ence using the techniques. Masks and punch- ing pillows were worn by the “attackers” in order for us to practice the moves using our full strength, as we would in a real attack. | found this class very useful and informa- tive. Not only did | learn various escape and physical defense techniques, but | also learned how many tense situations can be diffused by standing my ground. Most impor- tant of all, after | completed the course | felt stronger and more sure of myself. If a dan- gerous situation were to arise in the future, | would definitely feel more confident and secure in my abilities to cope with the situa- tion. @& Envision 23 Computer Illustration William Ngan Design Division (Graphic Design) iWWWV The Institute photograph by McKinley Morris by Bronwyn Masson There were 32 returned survey responses to the Women’s Survey that appeared in the December 1996 issue of Planet of the Arts. Overall, no one issue or suggestion stood out as the predominant focus in the respondents’ minds. The first question asked women to rank women’s safety, local women’s issues, personal financial issues, and student issues, in order of importance. The responses showed split concerns. 8 of the respondents ranked local women’s issues as their highest concern, closely followed by personal financial issues, which received 7 top rankings. The average of the 24 responses ranked personal safety as the number one concern. In real terms, most respondents consistently ranked personal safety as their second concern, and differed in their first choice. Of the 17 responses to the suggestion of having a wellness awareness seminar, 13 were in favour, 4 were not interested. Most would like this to be held over a lunch time. If a women-only social event were organised, 19 respondents said that they would participate, 4 said maybe and 9 said they were not interested. To the question having more women-focused art around the Institute, 13 women were in favour and 16 women said there was enough representation already or felt there was no need. Only 4 respondents thought that there was a need for a specific women’s art display area, 3 answered maybe and 19 respondents felt there was no need. 15 women answered yes to more women’s art shows and 9 thought that the shows were already represented enough in the school. To the question of having a women’s Concourse Gallery show, 18 responses were in favour and 7 responses were not. There were various themes suggested, but no consensus. Of those that answered this question 7 thought there was no need for a theme. Other suggestions indicated a desire for more information about scholarships for women, and more information about ageism. There were also 4 requests for more self-defense workshops. Several ques- tionnaires expressed concern over the specific gender focus of the self-defense workshops. Many thanks to all the respondents. This survey has given Monika & myself, as Women Co-Liaisons, some good direction on where we should focus our future organizing. @s OhAhph » waht! 56 Planet of the Arts / March 1997 by Christa Kaufmann ‘oth this term and last, Emily Core Institute has offered a course in self-defense for all women attend. ing and working at the school. The course was free thanks to funding from the Students Union and Emily Carr Safer Campus Committee Last semester a5 one of the 20 women students that participated in the course. [grew up in avery small town where the violence ond. crime rate was relatively low. 1 ‘never really flt that my safety was in jeopardy even when | walked the streets alone late at Fight. It took me a while to get sed to living in Vancouver and having to take extra measures to ook out for my safety To help adapt to my new surroundings 1 felt t would be beneficial for me to take a women's assertiveness and self-defense course. | wasn’t sure what to expect when I entered the clas; have ever taken such a course before. Many people think, a5! di, that self-defense mainly involves learn ing various physical moves in order tohharm your attacker. Some of thisis involved, but there is also a whole other aspect to self: defense In the fist session, we weren't even taught any physical moves or ‘escape methods. We learned that many dangerous situations can be diffused by communicating ‘assertively by verbal means and body language. One ofthe coping Skills we learned i looking directly into the asalants eyes, standing your ground, and stating calmly but firmly that you do not ike how they are treating you. | fee! ‘this can usually convince the person to leave you alone. ‘We learned how to be strong, ‘assertive, and to recognize that ‘we do not have to take any abuse fF actions towards us that make us ‘eel uncomfortable. Sometimes [people fel shy, and believe that ‘the drunk guy inthe bar who ‘aggressively hitting on them will leave them alone if they become cildstike and recoil. Becoming shy ‘and quiet ina situation only serves ‘to make the abuser feel more Powerful. On the other hand, if You act like an aggresive “bitch” towards the perpetrator it may ‘only cause him to become angry, ‘and more likely to cause you physical harm. The second class focused an the physical defense skills one could use on an attacker if the situation had excalated to violence, The form of self-defense taught in this course is not “beating the crap" out ofthe person, but striking their vulnerable areas in order to lsable them, of cause them enough pain to loosen ther grip, allowing you to flee. ‘Another common myth that people believe s taught in women’ self-defense courses is that when being attacked, one Should always go for the person's genital atea, Men, anticipating this, are well pre pared to protect ths sensitive area of theit body. We learned this is not the only way, and there are many other vulnerable areas Of the body one could attack to disable the assailant. We also practiced mock assaults on fone another in order to get hands-on exper: ence using the techniques. Masks and punch ing pillows were worn by the “attackers” in order for us to practice the moves using our {ull strength, as we would ina real attack | ound ths lass very useful and informa- tive. Not only did learn various escape and physical defense techniques, but! also Fearned how many tense situations can be Aiffused by standing my ground. Most impor tant of all ater | completed the course I felt stronger and more sure of myself. fa dan- {erous situation were to arse inthe future, | ‘Would definitely eel more confident and Secure in my abilities to cope withthe situa: tion. @ am Ngan ‘eson Division (Gophie Besar) (WW The Institute bby Bronwyn Masson ‘There were 32 returned survey responses to the Women's Survey that appeared in the December 1996 issue of Planet ofthe Art. Overall, no one issue or suggestion stood out asthe predominant focus inthe respondents minds The first question asked women to rank women's safety, local women's issues, personal financial issues, and student Issues, in order of importance. The responses showed split concems. 8 of the respondents ranked local women's issues 95 thet highest concern, closely followed by personal financial issues, which Feceived 7 top rankings. The average of the 24 responses ranked personal safety 2s the number one concern, in rea terms, most Fespondents consistently ranked personal safety as their second, concern, and differed in their frst choice. Of the 17 responses to the suggestion of having a wellness awareness seminar, 13 were in favour, 4 were not interested Most would like this to be held over a lunch time If a women-only social event were organised, 19 respondents said that they would participate 4 Said maybe and 9 said they were ot interested To the question having more women-focused art around the Institute, 13 women were in favour and 16 women said there was enough representation already or felt there was no need, Only 4 respondents thought that there was a need for a specific women’s art display area, 3 answered maybe and 19 respondents felt there was no need. 1S\vomen answered yes to more women's art shows and 9 ‘thought that the shows were already represented enough in the shoal “To the question of having a women’s Concourse Gallery ‘show, 18 responses were in favour and 7 responses were not There ‘were various themes suggested, but no consensus. Of those that Answered this question 7 thought there was no need for a theme. (Other suggestions indicated a desire for more information about scholarships for women, and more information about ageism, There ‘were also 4 requests for more self defense workshops. Several ques tionnaire expressed concern over the specific gender focus ofthe seltedefense workshops ‘Many thanks to all the respondents. This survey has given Monika & myself as Women Co-Liatons, some good direction on where we should focus our future organizing,