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Women’s Bodies, Women’s Empowerment:
Is Martial Arts an Effective Means of Women Reclaiming their Bodies?
By Jen Scarpa
Why do women train?
Does training give women a sense of empowerment?
Does Martial Arts give women a new identity?
Does Martial Arts affect their sexuality?
Is there a discrepancy between what women do and desire?
Is the amount/lack of support influential on women’s choices concerning self-defense/Martial Arts?
Do all forms of Martial Arts have the same ability to empower women?
Do some women train to become more feminine and if so is that really empowerment?
Are females at a disadvantage because of their biological makeup or do they have different strengths that are not as highly valued as typical male attributes?
How do people react to a woman’s choice to study Martial Arts?
Do female Martial Artists feel a conflict between feminine/masculine values because of their training?
In Conclusion
Yes, I believe very strongly that women can gain a sense of power through most forms of martial arts. This sense of power is not only power over themselves but also over their environment and relationships. All of these avenues are intertwined with sexuality and identity. Through this reclaiming of their bodies and space women become less restricted – in their choice of clothing, companionship, and travel – they are empowered.
When women perform a decidedly unfeminine script, as in self-defense classes, they are challenging gender reality. When women learn to get mean, they realize that feminine niceness is a historical effect, not a natural given of womanhood. Feminists have long been contesting the idea that gender differences are natural. What is revealed so clearly in self-defense classes is the level at which gender is incorporated into the body. (McCaughey, p.132)
Martial Arts does produce a new understanding of power. It makes women aware of, not only, their physical abilities but also their mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions. The National Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCASA) assembled a committee on self-defense, their definition of self-defense is as follows; “a set of awareness, assertiveness, and verbal confrontation skills with safety strategies and physical techniques that enable someone to successfully escape, resist and survive violent attacks.” (Giggans, p.4) This also includes the internal aspect of life known as chi, in traditional Chinese arts. Chi helps produce a new outlook on life forces and energy. It also makes women aware of the fluidity of power and the many ways to fight back within existing structures.
Women train in the martial arts for a variety of reasons. Most women begin training out of fear. (Wen, p.2; Giggan, p.1) That is they are painfully aware of their status of potential victim. This status might be imposed on them of a number of reasons – their gender, which alone makes them a more likely target; their race; religion; sexual orientation; or even political standing. Martial arts also enables women to gain control over their lives. Training may give them the tools to heal or recover from a rape or abuse of any kind. Suffering through an experience of rape or abuse can be a disempowering experience – feeling a sense of loss of control even over ones own body. Learning to defend one's self is an effective way to reclaim ownership over ones body and space. Some women feel the gym or on the mat is a place where they can find themselves and be themselves. Carol Sanoff describes her experience studying Aikido when she says, “the practice of Aikido seems to invite the exploration of power, so I felt safe to express my exuberance, my excitement, and my pleasure on the mat.” (Seigel, p.45) In addition, some women choose to train in order to reconnect their mind and body. The internal aspects of martial arts such as visualization and chi help women access many untouched areas. According the article, “Women: Empowerment is the Key to Happiness and Good Health,”
When a woman confirms her own self-worth and importance, only then, can she demand the respect that she deserves. This is a state of mind, but evidence shows that a person’s state of mind has an incredible impact on their overall good health. There is a positive correlation between a high self-image and a healthy woman. (West, p. 1)
Other women join because they are looking for a new way to workout. Many forms of martial arts will enable them to fulfill their desired results but others will not. Not all forms of martial arts are the same or focus on the same aspect of fighting.
Does training give women a sense of empowerment? (Back to the Top)
After all this training do women feel a sense of empowerment? In the majority of cases women do feel a sense of empowerment. My own experience training in Bo Fung Do for 5 years tells me this is true. I have felt it myself and according to the three women I interviewed they all feel the same way. Not only do I and my classmates feel this empowerment but the founder of AWSDA, Liz Kennedy, has also found this to be true. “Ms. Kennedy has observed the metamorphoses of women from passive, scared, and dependent to assertive, self-confident, and independent persons while training at Modern Warrior.” (Wen, p.2) This statement is confirmed by personal stories written by women who train in other forms. (Black Belt, Summer 2002, pp.66-70) For example, Kerry Sego, who is training in jujutsu, states that during her training she has attained “…a yellow belt as well as a heightened sense of empowerment.” (Black Belt, Summer 2002, p.67)
Does Martial Arts give women a new identity? (Back to the Top)
While this does not occur in every woman in every case there is strong evidence to support the idea that it does give women a new identity. In order for this to occur the individual must want it to because if not she would not continue her training. All interactions in life have the potential to add or reshape a persons identity, martial arts is no different.
When women do allow this shift to transpire one of the first things to change is their relationship with their body. Instead of focusing on their potential to be a victim they begin viewing themselves as a potential weapon. In the work, “Women’s Self-Defense: Physical Education for Everyday Life” by Carrie A. Rentschler, she describes women’s self-defense as “feminist physical education for everyday life.”(Rentschler, p.152) She believes that the way to make women’s fears of violence easier to handle is by changing the way they relate to their bodies first. (Rentshcler, p.152-153) Once this is altered this shift begins to affect the way they relate to others. Martial arts training gives them the tools to respond not only to physical violence but also verbal attacks and negative representations or opinions presented through the media and other spaces out of the control of any one individual woman.
In order to get to the point of a physical confrontation in which the attacked woman fights back she must first come to the conclusion and conviction that she is worth fighting for. Once she has the conviction and spirit necessary to survive any fight the physical skills will fall into place. The most important aspect of fighting is the will to win and that does not take any physical strength.
Does Martial Arts affect their sexuality? (Back to the Top)
Martial Arts enhances a woman’s confidence in general, this area of sexuality is not much different. Although this is true, from what the women I interviewed said, wanted sex is not pursued more vigorously or differently than before. My experience in this arena is slightly different. After completing the 16 Week Self-Defense course, offered at Modern Warrior in Lindenhurst New York, I felt a sense of assuredness and confidence in myself that was unknown to me until this point. This feeling has become more grounded in fact through my continuation in self-defense in their Martial Arts program. It has been five years since I began training in the art of Bo Fung Do and I loved every minute of it and will continue till my black belt and hopefully become a lead instructor for the Free Rape Prevention Classes they hold through American Women’s Self-Defense Association (AWSDA). Because of the level of awareness and confidence I have gained I feel more comfortable with my body, more in touch with my needs and more willing to voice them when necessary. I believe I would be more willing to pursue something I wanted, because of my training, whether it is sex, a position at work, or the class that I need to graduate I feel if I want it enough and work for it then I will achieve my goals. I also agree with the women I interviewed when they express the fact that they are more able to set boundaries that are comfortable with them and it necessary – enforce those boundaries. The author of the article “In Search of Solid Ground: Women’s Response To Violence”, Patricia Occhiuzzo Giggans, describes a confrontation she was involved in
…being surrounded by three men (one of whom had a knife, any of whom were capable of harming me) it was the power of limits. I was open enough to myself to experience the will of my “bottom line.” In this situation, I assessed the danger, weighed the choices and risks, and eliminated the possibility of being coerced into the car. I took a stance. In another situation, under different circumstances, I might define that bottom line differently. (Giggans, p.5)
Her position is this case is clear – she made a choice as to what she would do and not do and was willing to enforce this if necessary. She goes on to tell the reader that this decision and obvious will power de-escalated the confrontation. The point of the matter is that she had a, as she refers to it, “bottom line”. Women have the right to make the choice with whom, what, where, when etc. concerning their own sexuality and Martial Arts gives them the tools and confidence to do so.
Is there a discrepancy between what women do and desire? (Back to the Top)
Sadly, the amount of women who would like to learn to fight and the amount able to actually enroll in a self-defense class do not correlate. Many women profess a desire to train but never do. When I proposed this question to the three women I spoke to about this paper they generally agree that when they tell another woman about their training one typical response is – “I’ve always wanted to do something like that!” The interesting concept is that the majority don’t pursue the desire further than that.
The first reason I thought of when trying to explain this was they couldn’t train because of the monetary factor. Depending on the art, school, length of class, location and subject some classes can be expensive. This would hinder many women from attending. With too many other bills to pay and things to take care of their personal safety takes a back seat. While this is a valid excuse there are schools out there that offer Free classes for women. AWSDA offers a Free Rape Prevention class every few months on Long Island and they sponsor them elsewhere in the United States also. The Center for Anti-Violence Education/Brooklyn Women’s Martial Arts offers free self-defense and Martial Arts classes for girls 14-19 years old and survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence; the rest of the classes are offered on a sliding fee based on income. BAMM (Bay Area Model Mugging) offers scholarships to help those with lower incomes. The second reason I thought of is the time factor. How would a working class mother find the time to take a self-defense class? The Center for Anti-Violence Education/Brooklyn Women’s Martial Arts provides free childcare during class times. This is only one step towards making self-defense classes more available to women of all ages and classes. Lastly, I thought stereotypes surrounding fighting and women who choose to fight might form an invisible boundary for some women. Sometimes the labels ‘unfeminine’ or ‘unladylike’ are not how women want to be identified. The training women receive might also upset the balance in their current primary relationships. This new found independence, freedom and confidence might be difficult for a significant other to handle, especially a boyfriend or husband. For the majority of their lives they have been taught that it is their responsibility to protect their wife/girlfriend losing that role may be difficult and misunderstood.
Is the amount/lack of support influential on women’s choices concerning self-defense/Martial Arts? (Back to the Top)
There is no simple answer to this question of how influential is support concerning a women’s choice in regards to self-defense. The amount of support a woman feels is necessary for her to begin training or continue training primarily has to do with her personality. Some people enjoy being different, others need to fit in. The women I spoke to said that they were aware that they challenge feminine norms but in some ways enjoy that. They do not feel they need others’ approval in order to continue in their self growth. One way they go against the grain is that at Modern Warrior training is not a cardio vascular workout the majority of the time. The women (and men) that train there are not looking to fit into the social standards of thinness or the perfect toned body. If either of those occur it is an aside, something on the way to attaining their goal – to defend themselves and grow as a person (mental, emotionally, sometimes even spiritually). The reason why a woman trains or takes a self-defense course is an important factor in how influential others will be one her. Many have come to the point in which they are going to empower themselves no matter what, others are persuading into joining by a friend or relative. Without a certain level of commitment any excuse or obstacle may be a reason to quit. Lastly, how the training effects the way a in which a woman identifies with herself and others must match something she is comfortable with. If martial arts brings hardship to a primary relationship she may be forced to choose. Also, if the image she had of herself shifts to something she is unhappy with because of training without support she is more likely to stop. In general, whether or not others will influence a woman’s choice to engage in martial arts involves many variables and can not be accurately generalized.
Do all forms of Martial Arts have the same ability to empower women? (Back to the Top)
While there are many excellent schools which teach effective strategies and techniques to women of all sizes, races, ages and status, there are many in which perpetuate the myths surrounding female self-defense and women in martial arts.
The most common self-defense information given to women is a complex set of behavior rules. Don’t do this, don’t do that, don’t go there, don’t wear that, don’t live there, don’t look at men, are just a few of the behavior rules. These well-intentioned ‘safety-tips’ result in women monitoring their every move rather than empowering us to live freely. (Hopwood, p.1)
Another common female self-defense tactic is the concept of “Hit, Scream and Run Away.” Females enroll in a self-defense class to learn techniques and strategies that will hopefully one day save their live if the situation arises, this concept is inadequate to say the very least. I wonder how many martial arts instructors would teach “hit, scream and run away” to a male student? I would venture to say not many if any would teach this sort of silly concept. If martial arts instructors wouldn’t teach this to their males students why is taught to their female students? Instructors steer clear of this combination of techniques first because it is ineffective and secondly because males have been socialized that it is wrong and cowardly to run away from a fight. If this lesson is ineffective for males – it must be even more ineffective for females. One clear example of the fault in this technique is the advice to run away. In general men run faster than women (the fastest male runner is currently faster than the fastest female runner) so wouldn’t it make sense that if a woman was attacked and managed to run the male attacker would be able to catch up with her?! Then they would be in the same situation again except this time she is winded, tired and lost the element of surprise. This alone reveals the inconsistency and absurdity found in some self-defense classes, magazines and videos.
Some self-defense programs exclusively teach nonviolent resistance as ‘crime prevention’, these programs actually reinforce the weak/passive stereotype usually assigned to females. (Biscan, p.2) Biscan goes on to report that
the Maryland Community Crime Prevention Institute, for example, reportedly has told women that martial arts training would not decrease the chances of injuries in an attack. Instead, the institute has advised women to struggle, cry hysterically, and pretend to faint, be sick, pregnant, or insane. Sexual stereotyping that discourages women from defending themselves can be deadly. Studies have shown that women who resist and fight back are less likely to be harmed than those women who submit passively. (Biscan, p.2-3)
While I do not disagree with noise and deception this advice is clearly gendered and ineffective. Women should be encouraged to make noise and enforce their boundaries with physical techniques, many “women do not realize the ineffectiveness of pleading, begging, and reasoning with the offender.” (Madden, p.3) Madden brings up another excellent point when she says, “…some rapists are indeed seeking to feel powerful and to control a weaker person as some suggest, such pleading behavior might actually reward certain rapists.” (Madden, p.3) The majority of rapists expect some type of ‘token’ resistance women who utilize such strategies fall into their plan, what an attacker does not expect from a woman is overwhelming, violent resistance.
Still other women are taught to rely on the current 911 system and police assistance. Biscan cites that “fewer than 5 percent of all calls dispatched to police are made soon enough for officers to stop a crime or arrest a suspect.” (Biscan, p.1) No one asks males to rely on someone else’s aid; females should not be given that as the only option. One slogan I heard through ASWDA is an excellent example of good advice concerning SELF-defense – “Your Survival Begins and Ends with YOU!”
Do some women train to become more feminine and if so is that really empowerment? (Back to the Top)
Although the goal of fitting into stereotypical feminine roles would most likely not be the main objective it might result from a women’s experience in martial arts and new found confidence. She may feel more able to express herself through typically feminine avenues. When femininization is the main pursuit, I believe the woman would either drop out relatively quickly or join a softer form such as yoga, or tai chi. Her goal may be to get fit, toned and a feminine look cardio kickboxing might be the way to go. While boxing and kickboxing provide a chance to work out and gain muscle they do not provide a realistic and practical way of defending oneself on the street (for males or females).
Whether or not women feel empowered by this training I wouldn’t argue that they do feel physically stronger and might equate that with empowerment. While the physical level is usually the first aspect, empowerment goes far beyond just that. Setting physical boundaries helps women understand the notion of boundaries on all levels. (Guthrie, p.8) Once the physical realm is conquered either the woman moves past the unilateral notion of ‘feminine’ or she stunts her growth.
Are females at a disadvantage because of their biological makeup or do they have different strengths that are not as highly valued as typical male attributes? (Back to the Top)
If one considers a tendency for smaller primary muscles, less lung capacity, height, weight and wider hips in comparison to shoulders then, yes, women are at a disadvantage in a fight because of their biological makeup. While this may be true this does not restrict a woman from winning a life and death confrontation. The typical female body has its strengths and weaknesses just the same as the typical male body does. The key is understanding the differences, advantages, limits and disadvantages of every body type, including your own that way each may be exploited.
In the sports arena no man would ever think of comparing Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammed Ali since there was a sixty pound weight difference – they boxed in different classes. If these athletes can’t be compared why is the top ranking female tennis player compared to the top male player who usually weighs sixty pounds more than her? The same people that would compare both tennis players would say that women are naturally inferior to men in terms of strength and speed. (www.feminist.org/research/sports9.html) A fight is not a sporting event nor is it a competition with strict rules and regulations. Strength becomes the lesser factor and mind and spirit takes over.
Pound for pound women are stronger from the waist down, the opposite is true for men; pound for pound men are stronger from the waist up. “Although men may be stronger physiologically, women have the physical advantage of leverage and strong hips and legs.” (Rentschler, p.155) This is quite an advantage. According Melissa Soalt’s article in the Summer 2002 edition of Self Defense for Women,
Women also possess some unique strengths: speed, agility, surprise, cunning, good intuition, a lower center of gravity (excellent for balance and maintaining a base of power) and powerful emotional reserves that can transform petite women into formidable forces of nature.(Self Defense, Summer 2002, p. 25)
The issue is not whether a woman can physically handle a fight – her body is quite capable (if she were fighting for her child no one, including herself, would question her ability); but whether she knows that is the case. Many women do not realize that strength is not just how much you can bench press or squat. It is not body parts. “Strength is a capacity.” (Rentschler, p. 155) There are many parts of the body that muscle does not protect (eyes, throat, hinge of the jaw, temple, spine, instep, knee, etc). There are also parts of the body that become more vulnerable because of an over build up of muscle such as the upper ribs. It surprises most women when they find out how little strength and training it takes to cause dysfunction to an attacker when using strikes to these and other vital targets. Spirit is much more important in winning a life and death confrontation than is strength.
And we women “have our own unique embodiment of strength, vigor and power and we are paving a road to share in the same opportunities and optimal life experiences as men.” (Self Defense, Fall 2002, p.11) This understanding of power runs parallel to Foucault’s description of power as being everywhere and coming from everything. (Foucault, p.93)
How do people react to a woman’s choice to study Martial Arts? (Back to the Top)
According to the females I questioned some people just do not understand why a woman would want to continue training beyond taking a Rape Prevention class. “It is common for students’ families or friends – frequently male partners – to undermine women’s confidence in self-defense courses by raising” questions such as: whether greater physical injury will occur as a result of resistance and whether resistance reduces the severity of an assault. (Madden, p.1) This is not done intentionally but I believe that the more self-reliant a woman becomes the more disconcerted some family and friends (especially male partners) become. This is tends to be the case when the person adheres to relatively strict guides about feminine and masculine qualities. These people also tend to still believe many of the various myths surrounding women warriors. When I asked Joanne Lombardi (currently a green belt studying at Modern Warrior) if, before she began training, she held a picture of a female Martial Artist her answer was yes and stereotypical. She said when she was younger she thought the woman would have to be over six feet tall with the physical strength of a male and almost completely devoid of ‘feminine’ qualities. While her personal view point has changed due to the overwhelming number of female role models in Martial Arts that do not fit that description, the myth still floats about.
Some other prevalent myths are that martial arts makes women unfeminine, more aggressive and less patient. Tenna Perry also points out that some feel martial arts is too rough for women, that training may pose a threat to a relationship and that it is a man’s place to protect an defend women. She also asserts that some feel martial arts training is one hundred percent effective, because of her training she will be able to beat a man - pound for pound in a wrestling match and that women martial artists are coarse, unattractive women. (Perry, p.1-2; Giggans, p.5) These examples are only an overview of some of the myths which encircle female self-defense and martial artists.
This question of people’s reactions is difficult to fully answer because many women keep their training a secret since the vast majority of rapes are not committed by a stranger.
Do female Martial Artists feel a conflict between feminine/masculine values because of their training? (Back to the Top)
The women I interviewed all related to me that they didn’t feel any sort of gender conflict but nonetheless understood that they were going against typical feminine qualities. When I presented this question to Jennifer Haas (currently taking her black belt test in Bo Fung Do) her answer took me by surprise. She said that because of her training she felt more feminine. Since gaining her self-esteem and confidence her style of clothing has changed. She is comfortable knowing that she does look good and that is okay. In her book Real Knockouts: The Physical Feminism of Women’s Self-Defense Martha McCaughey of women after they have taken courses such as a Model Mugging Course feel a feminine side to themselves. Some change their style of clothing also- wear more dresses, etc. because now they don’t feel like they need to put up a front but can be themselves, knowing that if they had to they could defend themselves. (McCaughey, p.120-121) Martial arts teaches one to find a balance in life and this includes a balance between masculine and feminine qualities.
In Conclusion (Back to the Top)
The study of martial arts in many cases profoundly changes the way in which women perceive their body and selves. (Guthrie, p.2) A study conducted by Sharon R. Guthrie on adult women practicing seido karate for a minimum of six months were found to have an increase not only in their ability to physically defend themselves but emotional as well. They showed an increase in self-esteem, confidence and awareness of their body in relation to themselves and others. (Guthrie, p.1; Madden, p.7) The women found that they had the right to defend themselves – something not possess by many women. (Guthrie, p.6)
Although most women begin training out of fear, many continue out of love and a search for personal growth. Martial arts, if the woman allows, greatly influences her identity and sexuality. Women gain a new perspective on life and they being to view themselves not as a potential victim but a potential weapon. Despite the obvious benefits of self-defense there continue to be myths surrounding female martial artists. Women have already begun to prove the biological inequality wrong. Physical strength alone does not win a confrontation, the will to survive is necessary also. Not all forms of martial arts teach these concepts, in these cases they actually serve to disempower women. With or without any formal training women have the ability to fight back and win against bigger, faster and stronger attackers.