Know yourself, be safe
Body language, signals, perceptions and setting boundaries are all important for women to protect themselves from sexual assault. Erin Beard and Tara Tracy from Open Arms Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services in Findlay shared these ideas at the first in a series of brown bag lunches this year.
Beard explained that many people, especially young women, are unaware of the various facets of abuse. Social services investigators view abuse differently and handles each reported case as special, she said. To stay safe, she emphasized setting sexual boundaries and making body language signals very clear. She demonstrated how the difference between a compliment, flirtation and sexual harassment can be very subtle. Respecting someone else’s space is key, she said, as everything from rude gestures to molestation falls under sexual harassment and can lead to unwanted attention or sexual assault.
More often than not, Beard said, rape is not about sex, but about power and control. Her biggest tip was to walk with a purpose to avoid being perceived as weak. She recommended traveling in pairs because there is power in numbers.
Additionally, she told the students to trust their instincts. “If you feel uncomfortable, leave. Immediately. Set those boundaries for yourself and for everyone around you.”
Beard closed with a quick self-defense lesson, and one final thought: “Be OK with who you are. If someone starts to treat you badly, squash that right away. If you know who you are, you won’t allow yourself to be treated like you’re sub-human.”
Open Arms Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services, a shelter for battered women and children and a child advocacy center, offers programs for repeat domestic violence offenders and outreach to help with the legal process for victims of domestic violence. The staff can be reached in the office at 419.420.9261; by the 24-hour crisis hotline at 419.422.4766; or by visiting their website at www.openarmsfindlay.org.
Posted on Sept. 26, 2008