I came to realize something that I may have taken for granted. The definition of violence and how that is perceived by men or women. I know it may be taboo to speak in gender specifics. It is necessary because your instruction should take it into consideration, for interpretations from perceptive filtering which result in specific responses, to violence according to gender.
In Dr. Suzette Elgin's book, Genderspeak: Men, Women, and The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense, in chapter three she discusses that often reference to "semantics" that is to me a misunderstood inference the gender perception differences toward violence. There is apparently a "reality gap" for the word violence for American English. Go directly to that chapter and page 42 and 43 for the entire section.
I would have gone on assuming that all of us understood violence until I read this part. I have a new respect for both the gender specifics on violence as well as verbal communications.
Bibliography:
Elgin, Suzzette Haden, Ph.D. "Genderspeak: Men, Women, and The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense." Wiley & Sons. New York. 1993
p.s. what the dictionary says: Behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something; Strength of emotion or an unpleasant or destructive natural force; The unlawful exercise of physical force or intimidation by the exhibition of such force. It is now understood that even tho this is exact words describing violence the perceptive filters of people, emphasis here gender specific, may convey different semantic meaning.
Hey, Attention on Deck!
Hey, NOTHING here is PERSONAL, get over it - Teach Me and I will Learn!
When you begin to feel like you are a tough guy, a warrior, a master of the martial arts or that you have lived a tough life, just take a moment and get some perspective with the following:
I've stopped knives that were coming to disembowel me
I've clawed for my gun while bullets ripped past me
I've dodged as someone tried to put an ax in my skull
I've fought screaming steel and left rubber on the road to avoid death
I've clawed broken glass out of my body after their opening attack failed
I've spit blood and body parts and broke strangle holds before gouging eyes
I've charged into fires, fought through blizzards and run from tornados
I've survived being hunted by gangs, killers and contract killers
The streets were my home, I hunted in the night and was hunted in turn
Please don't brag to me that you're a survivor because someone hit you. And don't tell me how 'tough' you are because of your training. As much as I've been through I know people who have survived much, much worse. - Marc MacYoung
WARNING, CAVEAT AND NOTE
The postings on this blog are my interpretation of readings, studies and experiences therefore errors and omissions are mine and mine alone. The content surrounding the extracts of books, see bibliography on this blog site, are also mine and mine alone therefore errors and omissions are also mine and mine alone and therefore why I highly recommended one read, study, research and fact find the material for clarity. My effort here is self-clarity toward a fuller understanding of the subject matter. See the bibliography for information on the books. Please make note that this article/post is my personal analysis of the subject and the information used was chosen or picked by me. It is not an analysis piece because it lacks complete and comprehensive research, it was not adequately and completely investigated and it is not balanced, i.e., it is my personal view without the views of others including subject experts, etc. Look at this as “Infotainment rather then expert research.” This is an opinion/editorial article/post meant to persuade the reader to think, decide and accept or reject my premise. It is an attempt to cause change or reinforce attitudes, beliefs and values as they apply to martial arts and/or self-defense. It is merely a commentary on the subject in the particular article presented.
Note: I will endevor to provide a bibliography and italicize any direct quotes from the materials I use for this blog. If there are mistakes, errors, and/or omissions, I take full responsibility for them as they are mine and mine alone. If you find any mistakes, errors, and/or omissions please comment and let me know along with the correct information and/or sources.
“What you are reading right now is a blog. It’s written and posted by me, because I want to. I get no financial remuneration for writing it. I don’t have to meet anyone’s criteria in order to post it. Not only I don’t have an employer or publisher, but I’m not even constrained by having to please an audience. If people won’t like it, they won’t read it, but I won’t lose anything by it. Provided I don’t break any laws (libel, incitement to violence, etc.), I can post whatever I want. This means that I can write openly and honestly, however controversial my opinions may be. It also means that I could write total bullshit; there is no quality control. I could be biased. I could be insane. I could be trolling. … not all sources are equivalent, and all sources have their pros and cons. These needs to be taken into account when evaluating information, and all information should be evaluated.” - God’s Bastard, Sourcing Sources (this applies to this and other blogs by me as well; if you follow the idea's, advice or information you are on your own, don't come crying to me, it is all on you do do the work to make sure it works for you!)
“You should prepare yourself to dedicate at least five or six years to your training and practice to understand the philosophy and physiokinetics of martial arts and karate so that you can understand the true spirit of everything and dedicate your mind, body and spirit to the discipline of the art.” - cejames (note: you are on your own, make sure you get expert hands-on guidance in all things martial and self-defense)
“All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.” - Montaigne
I am not a leading authority on any one discipline that I write about and teach, it is my hope and wish that with all the subjects I have studied it provides me an advantage point that I offer in as clear and cohesive writings as possible in introducing the matters in my materials. I hope to serve as one who inspires direction in the practitioner so they can go on to discover greater teachers and professionals that will build on this fundamental foundation. Find the authorities and synthesize a wholehearted and holistic concept, perception and belief that will not drive your practices but rather inspire them to evolve, grow and prosper. My efforts are born of those who are more experienced and knowledgable than I. I hope you find that path! See the bibliography I provide for an initial list of experts, professionals and masters of the subjects.
3 comments:
I'm gonna have to get that book Charles - it sounds fascinating...
I've been reading Dr. Elgin's book and I disagree with her implication that men and women UNDERSTAND violence differently; I think that the majority of women who do not train in the martial arts or sports like boxing see violence - from the "Chester the Molester" who jumps out from behind the bushes to a car-jacking or armed assault - as something that would/could never, ever, happen to them. I think it's more of a socialization thing - and not something innate - that causes we women to often second-guess ourselves and even pooh-pooh that "Spidey-sense" that tells us to prepare to fight or flee by telling ourselves we are "over-reacting". Think about it: most of our social upbringing revolves around us being lady-like and demure, quiet, delicate,
I heard it explained like this once: if we raised our dogs like we raise our children, it would be one jacked-up scene! What I mean by that is this: imagine if we separated female puppies from male puppies and explained the male's nipping at each other and play-fighting as "boys will be boys" but encouraged the females to be docile and calm (and reprimanded them if they were not). Crazy talk, right? But that's exactly what we do to human baby males and females -and we wonder why many women cannot defend themselves or even recognize when violence is eminent. Just sayin'...
Thanks for you views and comments Felicia and especially your support by reading my stuff.
I have to give some thought to your comment.
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