Rape plays a role in maintaining patriarchy by perpetrating the threat of violence. The acts of just a few violent men can terrorize all women and can control women's lives. The indifference of other men reinforces this effect. A strategy for eliminating women's vulnerability to rape involves altering the power relationship between women and men. Society trains females to be physically and emotionally unequipped to respond effectively to danger.
Training begins at an early age.
Boys and girls are channeled into different physical activities, because of the believed differences in physical and muscular development and stamina. Consequently, as adults, females are unable to gauge both their own bodies' resistance to injury, and their own strength and power. Learning self-defense in schools and on the job would be a step towards alleviating women's vulnerability, as would providing girls and women with equal opportunities and encouragement to engage in sports. I was glad to hear that MIT set up a self-defense class for women. We haven t been taught that we need to be aggressive and protect our own bodies.