Tag: empowerment
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Don’t tell me how to be an empowered woman
I’ve noticed a trend amongst a small demographic made up of men who are angry at me. It is a brilliant rhetorical strategy that looks more or less like this: “You call yourself an empowered woman? Then why don’t you ____, huh?” Fill in the blank. Do this thing I think you should do. Conform…
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Why I’m Embracing the Power of my Anger.
Lessons from a Goddess on the Power of Ugliness A former partner used to tell me that my anger—or more specifically, my bitch face—frightened him. It was thanks to him, thanks to the pyrotechnics of our conflicts, that I came to know my capacity for rage. Do you know what it feels like to embody…
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Saying Yes to Pleasure: Healing and Connection Through Holistic Self-Defense
Our YES is just as radical as our NO. A body recoiling from an unwanted touch. A jaw locking in shock from a non-consensual kiss. Arms crossed over the chest—an uninvited comment. A forced smile, fake laughter, feigned interest, a counterfeit orgasm. Most women know what it feels like to fake pleasure out of fear—fear…
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The Difference Between Martial Arts and Empowerment Self-Defense
Understanding Holistic Self-Defense I do not teach martial arts! I’m not even a martial artist. I am an instructor certified by ESD Global to teach Empowerment Self-Defense, a violence prevention methodology developed by martial artists with over 40 years of experience. We work with physical techniques derived from various martial arts, assertive communication techniques, and…
