theplaceinsidetheblizzard:

ryusantiago:

stepnsteph:

meliboomelody:

searchingforknowledge:

Fifteen rape victims have formed martial arts movement and are prepared to confront abusers if no one listens to their complaints…

A GROUP of women are fighting back against the sickening culture of rape which they say infects India. Fifteen determined females – all victims themselves – have trained in martial arts and are prepared to hand out rough justice if no one listens to their complaints. And the movement, called the Red Brigade, is growing rapidly following the gang rape and murder of medical student Jyoti Singh Pandey that horrified the world.

In a nation where a woman is reportedly raped every 20 minutes, the group’s leader Usha Vishwakarma said: “We are fighting back – and the boot is now on the other foot.” Member Sufia Hashmi, 17, said: “We’ve caught a lot of men recently. I joined because men always used to pass comments on me and touch my body but now we beat them and they run.”

Like the other members in the northern city of Lucknow, 25-year-old Usha has first-hand experience of the daily dangers women face in the huge nation – a teacher tried to rape her when she was 18. She said: “He grabbed me and tried to open my trousers. I kicked him in the crotch and ran.” Usha complained to staff but they told her to forget it and allowed her attacker to carry on teaching. She said: “Many parents tell girls to quit school so there will be no sexual violence. But we said no – this has to stop. We decided to form a group to fight for ourselves, not just complain.” MORE

As a martial artist and a woman, I approve of this.

Hell yeah! Kick their asses, ladies. Also, I had no idea it was so bad over there. That is disgusting and heart breaking.

Finally, this happens. Instead of hiding or letting a bad experience ruin their lives, these women have taken control and done something about it. I’m happy about this. Women should do this everywhere and men should support it.

Don’t wait for it to happen. Take action, now!

This is awesome as a thing but I am always wary of any narrative which presents an ideal way for women to react to rape or sexual assault. If your way of dealing with your experience is to turn into a certified arse-kicker I bloody love you. But that’s not the way everyone wants to del with it and people shouldn’t be made to feel guilty that they didn’t react to their traumatic experience this way.

You see this way of thinking every time you get a fictional female character who has a traumatic past, every time you get a “rape revenge story”. It says simultaneously that women can only be strong if they have had a traumatic event in their past and that the only “right” way to respond to sexual violence is with more violence.

Women shouldn’t have to resort to violence to ensure that their bodily integrity is not violated. Prevention of sexual violence should not be the responsibility of victims. Everyone should be given the space to deal with sexual violence in the ways that are best for them.

You see this way of thinking every time you get a fictional female character who has a traumatic past, every time you get a “rape revenge story”. It says simultaneously that women can only be strong if they have had a traumatic event in their past and that the only “right” way to respond to sexual violence is with more violence.

Women shouldn’t have to resort to violence to ensure that their bodily integrity is not violated. Prevention of sexual violence should not be the responsibility of victims. Everyone should be given the space to deal with sexual violence in the ways that are best for them.

Reblogging both for the really awesome OP, and for theplaceinsidetheblizzard’s commentary. Let’s not shame survivors for their reactions, please.

Edit: you know, I say “awesome,” but it’s heartbreaking more than anything. No one should have to face the constant risk of assault.