Community Self-confidence defers atiackers by Valorie Lennox The Review ~ Be bold. Don’t be a victim. Passive women who meekly defer to others and avoid eye contact are more likely to be chosen as victims, says Saanichton defense instructor Jim Doan. In his three-hour Educated Defense workshop, he warns women that traditionally feminine, self-depreciating behavior can lead an attacker to assume a woman is easy prey. But a woman who appears self- confident will be rejected in favor of an easier target. Although he has taught karate for 10 years, Doan’s program focuses on non-physical ways of avoiding an attack. He started designing the pro- gram five years ago after he real- ized there were many women who wanted to protect themselves — but who were not able or were unwilling to take physical self- defense. “T realized there was a huge section of the population who don’t want to be violent,” he said. In addition, he says self-defense methods may be forgotten if a woman panics when attacked. “Techniques are really hard to remember in a panic.” Doan now feels a good offence is not the best defense. The best defence is avoiding the conflict. His workshops are peppered with suggestions to help women of all ages keep themselves safer. ‘You will never know when you have prevented an attack’ At home, don’t open the door to strangers; install good deadbolt locks; don’t volunteer information to telephone surveys; install and use a viewer to screen callers; list _ only a last name in a phone book and limit the number of available keys to the home. When walking on the street, especially at night, do not pass closely in front of open door fronts or alleys where an attacker may hide. Long hair should be tucked under a coat or sweater and back- pack straps should only be worn across one shoulder so the pack can be slipped off easily — other- wise both can be grabbed by an assailant and used to drag a woman backwards. If a woman believes she is being followed, she should take action to draw attention to herself — which may scare off an attacker. Instead of carrying mace, which is illegal in Canada, Doan recom- mends carrying a whistle. -Most people will hesitate to use mace or any harmful substance on another person, Doan said. But blowing a whisile does nothing to the other person and draws atten- tion — the last thing any potential attacker wants. According to 1990-91 statistics, Doan says one in four women can expect to be sexually assaulted. Eighty per cent of rapes occur in the victim’s neighborhood and half in the victim’s homes. An estimated 70 per cent of sexual attacks are by acquaintances, he adds. So-called ‘date rapes’ are less likely to be reported to police. However Doan says all incidents should be reported, since those who assault others often have a history of assault and will attack again. One way of averting a ‘date rape’ is to try and discover the basis of the attacker’s fantasy and frustrating it as much as possible. Doan suggests men who commit “date rape’ may delude themselves into believing they have been given consent and that they and the victim have some sort of relationship. Less common is sexual assault by a stranger. The first step in such an assault is the choice of a victim, Doan says. “Tt’s not based on beauty, it is just violence. The rapist will try to control the victim.” Then the attacker may try to confirm the choice by talking to the potential victim, seeking signs that the woman can be easily dominated and controlled. It is during these first two steps that a woman has the best chance to easily prevent the attack by appearing self-confident — and therefore more difficult to control. “You will never know when you have prevented an attack,” he says. His next workshop will be June 22. For information call 652-3417. GR The War Amps of Canada i TheReview Wednesday, June 17,1992 — Ald Ss. 4 MEGAPOWERS Science Fact v Learn about science and have : some fun! 4 For children * ages 10-15. 7 All illustrations - a AVOID THIS HAZARD by not walking too close to an open alley, says Educated Defence program instructor Jim Doan. Doan played an attacker and Christine { Aske of Sianey posed as a 2496 Beacon Ave. victim to illustrate one of Mon.-Sat the risks described in 350. 3a Fantastic Doan’‘s workshop. Sun dai Books y Available! 12 noon-4:00 r —y GLEN MEADOWS COUNTRY CLUB TREAT DAD TO A GREAT GAME OF GOLF FATHERS DAY 18 HOLE GREEN FEE A NEW NAME FOR Alyce’s Come in and enter our contest. 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