Misanthropy in the Midwest?

Ugh.

Okay, the thing is - self defense is for exactly what the name implies:  SELF. DEFENSE.  It is not purely for the sake of being an “anti-rape” device.  It is for defending yourself against any possible attack, including mugging, non-sexual assault, or even someone trying to take you hostage.

The big problem I have with third-wave feminism is that it is literally putting women back by decades by actually trying to make us WEAK.  Instead of allowing women to actually BE STRONG, they think it’s the rest of the world’s job to become SOFT.

We’re not made of glass.  We’re not helpless.  And, statistics bear out that rape is nowhere near the problem that people are making it out to be.  It has decreased dramatically, because WE ARE TEACHING MEN NOT TO RAPE, AND APPARENTLY, IT’S WORKING OUT JUST FINE.  The problem is that people fail to realize that it is not being male that is to blame for rape.  It is not jokes, nor is it the fault of the media.  The brains of individuals prone to violence are different than those of the average person.  Science has shown that the parts of the brain that keep most of us from acting out against what we know to be the boundaries of acceptable behavior are either smaller, or not functioning on the same level in people that have committed rape, murder, and violent crime.

Rape is not caused by our culture.  IT IS CAUSED BY A LACK OF PROPER BRAIN FUNCTION.  No amount of “jokes” about rape are going to disable that function on their own.

Meanwhile, to hell with these people that throw “rape culture” around as an excuse for women to not take responsibility for their own safety.  They might as well be telling us not to wear seat belts because they’re “a tool of the patriarchy”.  Women are being reproached for not falling in line and playing the victim role these people want them to.  It isn’t healthy, and it’s downright asinine.  If all you ever aspire to is weakness, then yes - you will BE WEAK.

I’ve taken self-defense courses myself, and I feel all the better for them.  I’m also aware that self-defense is for all gender identities.  It’s called BEING FUCKING SMART.  The world is a dangerous place, and rape isn’t the only bullshit going on out there.  If you do nothing but cower and play the “damsel in distress” card, then you might as well be driving a hot rod with no car insurance, or living in a house with no locks on the doors.  If you think there’s something “wrong” with women learning self defense, then the only thing that’s truly “wrong” is YOU.

Self-defense isn’t “the patriarchy’s” invention to “excuse men from rape”.  It is for ALL PEOPLE to gain a significant advantage in the face of ALL forms of danger, no matter where it’s coming from.

STOP PERPETUATING OBSOLETE GENDER ROLES.  Femininity does not equate to “weakness” UNLESS YOU FUCKING LET IT.