One in three women suffers violence, WHO global study finds

[marions ghost]

90. I don't see it as either/or

--or one thing before another.

Teaching girls self-defense sends a strong message to boys that may be as, or more effective than lip-service by parents and teachers that is often ignored, especially in a sexist society. It is hard even for good parents, who want to do the right thing by their boys, to overcome the subliminal & not so subliminal messages that tell boys to dominate and even to disrespect girls. It is ingrained in society at every level. Boys of all backgrounds know that it is always better to be a boy....still--that backward idea still persists. The statistics about abuse of women tell them that, if what they actually see doesn't.

All I'm saying is--girls learning self-defense and how to set boundaries with boys--can lower the statistics and is one way toward a better future. If it goes along with training more boys to respect women, that's the best scenario. In societies that are so far down the bad road, women need all the help they can get not to be victimized. Women who have sheltered upbringings are especially vulnerable IMO.

I'm all for heavy penalties. But would rather focus on prevention.