Citation

Guthrie SR. Women Ther. 1995; 16(2-3): 107-119.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J015v16n02_12

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In this paper, I challenge the Cartesian emphasis on mind that characterizes much of feminist theory and propose instead a feminist "care of the self" ethics that revolutionizes both mind and body. Qualitative research involving participant-observation and 30 indepth interviews with women who practice seido karate at Thousand Waves, a feminist martial arts dojo in Chicago, provide empirical support for such a proposition. Data indicated that women's self concept is profoundly altered when physically empowering activites such as martial arts are practiced in gynocentric spaces infused with feminist spirit, ethics, and pedagogy. They also indicated that healing from incest, rape and other forms of violence is facilitated by martial arts/self defense training in ways that are qualitatively different than psychological therapy. Ultimately, this work suggests that approaches that empower women physically, as well as mentally and spiritually, may be more effective in producing personal and social change than cognitive strategies alone.