There are a lot of common myths and misconceptions regarding self-defense and personal safety, and we want to help you find the truth. Many of these misconceptions were formed from misinformation, old information, or socialization. Not all are formed from malice, but some are. So we’re here to help you navigate through some of the more common myths and misconceptions.
This week’s misconception:
Self-defense is only for white women
There is a common misconception that self-defense training is exclusive to white women. This misconception came from generations and generations of gaslighting and hatred directed towards BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized communities. The reality is that women of color experience higher rates of violence than any other group. There are self-defense organizations that exclusively show images and videos of white women defending themselves on their social media pages and websites, making it seem like self-defense is not for marginalized communities. Media sources also use coded language that creates a distinction between white people defending themselves and people of other races and ethnicities do the same thing.
Self-defense is for everyone. Our organization did originally start as a women’s self-defense company because we recognized women were consistently being targeted and attacked. As our students asked more questions, we developed more programs because EVERYONE deserves to feel confident and safe walking through the world. Our goal is for every person, regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, or physical or mental ability, to be able to go where they want, when they want, day or night, feeling comfortable and safe moving through their daily lives. Self-defense can help shift the narratives about gender and race which can have positive impacts on all communities. To other self-defense organizations: be a part of the solution to ending racism in the world. By showing a wide range of people in your content, everyone feels supported and safe coming to your classes.