FEMINIST SELF-DEFENCE WORKSHOPS

The Center for Advanced Studies has initiated a feminist self-defence workshop organized in collaboration with the Center for Women’s Studies (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences), taking place at the Academy of Applied Arts at the University of Rijeka. The course will last until the end of the winter semester with guidance of current CAS SEE Fellow, Mónica Cano Abadía.

“Against sexist aggressions it is necessary to learn a series of both physical and psychosocial strategies. Self-defence is a defence against prior aggressions to safeguard our physical and mental integrity. The right to self-defence against harm or danger is entirely legitimate. In the case of women, many of the aggressions that we suffer on a daily basis come from structural misogynist violence. Therefore, we speak of feminist self-defence, as we defend ourselves against the violence of both the particular aggressors and the patriarchal system.

Feminist self-defence goes beyond learning physical techniques. It tries to reinforce the autonomy of women in the public and private space enhancing our physical, emotional and social security. It is also a way of life that requires mechanisms of prevention, critical analysis of our gender-biased social practices, and the creation of networks of sorority to encourage active personal and collective defence.” – Mónica Cano Abadía