Citation

Cermele J. Violence Against Women 2010; 16(10): 1162-1172.

Affiliation

Drew University, Madison, NJ. jcermele@drew.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1077801210382873

PMID

20980233

Abstract

While more research is emerging on women's capacity for successful resistance and the benefits of self-defense training for women, "resistance" to the idea of women's resistance remains high. In this note, I describe the importance of bringing true accounts of successful resistance to both academic and lay communities, and the benefits to women of recounting their own experiences of successful resistance to violence and harassment. Such accounts provide new scripts for women's options in responding to violence, mark attempted but thwarted rape as a visible event, and remind women of their own agency in the face of assault.

Language: en