Tag: patriarchy
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What Dance can teach us about Self-Defense
In self-defense, as in dance, one breath can change everything. The “sacred pause” can be the difference between reaction and response, between contraction and expansion, between inaction and action. In the spaciousness at the top of our inhale, everything expands and possibilities open before us. In the emptiness at the bottom of our exhale, clarity…
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Women who Travel Alone, This is for You.
On July 26, 2018, a young Mexican musician set off on a solo trip before her band’s first concert. Her name was María, and she was 25 years old. At dawn on August 5th, 2018, she and a friend were walking on the beach in Costa Rica when two men assaulted them. María’s friend managed to…
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Every Day — and March 8 — is a Good Day to Fight for Women’s Rights
It’s March 8, 2023. Between a “voice activation” exercise where we shout “no” at high, higher, and highest volume and a round of practicing palm heel strikes, my phone pings over and over. I’ve received a flood of messages wishing me a “Happy International Women’s Day.” I send back a few emojis without too much…
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why are women marching?
Why are these women shouting? Why are they so hysterical? Why so much noise on March 8th? International Women’s Day was born from a labor struggle and a transcontinental collaboration of women. Some people celebrate women on this day, while others say we shouldn’t—because this is a day to fight. In my opinion, it can…
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danger isn’t sexy: Dismantling Toxic Masculinity from the Inside Out.
It is 6 a.m., and I’m sipping coffee on my balcony watching the sky turn from gray to blue. A worn poncho keeps out the morning chill. Ensconced in my own safe space in this new home, I’m reflecting on how ease-fullness in relationships similarly makes me feel good, safe, and, yes, sexy. Danger, when…
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I’m Not “in my Feminine” & you’re Not “in your Masculine”—the Danger of Polarity Speak.
“I really feel you in your masculine right now with this boundary.” A good while ago, a friend said something along those lines when I expressed a boundary to him during an event. It was that “masculine” energy that seemed to drive it home—he knew I was serious. His choice of words nagged me then,…
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Sisterhood paves the way for our safety
Trigger warning: This article discusses topics related to sexual violence. Strong Women: Self-Defense, Sisterhood, Justice, and Personal Safety Learning from Bonobos About Sisterhood and Collective Self-Defense This month, Andrés Picado was finally sentenced to 24 years in prison for crimes committed between 2019 and 2022, including the sexual assault of five foreign women and two…
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Self-Defense is Collaborative
Mission before Competition This year I have seen at least 3 different holistic self-defense retreats going around social media. None of them have been through my project (Choose Empowerment). At another moment of my life, maybe I would have gotten offended… Seeing other people taking “my” thing and making it theirs would have generated some…
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Why We Reject Fear-Based Marketing Strategies
Let’s Elevate Empowerment and Autonomy! On our social media pages, you’ll never see images of men lurking in the shadows, nor will we tell you about the dangers of walking alone at night. We believe most women are already well aware of the realities of gender-based violence.* We don’t need a daily reminder of the…
