by admin | May 24, 2025 | Blog
Why this article?
Too often, women’s self-defense is caricatured: people think it’s just about yelling, hitting, or running away. In reality, it’s much more complex.
A Different Perspective: Moving Beyond Stereotypes
Through the testimonies of experts, survivors, and trainers, we explore what it really means to “defend oneself” when you’re a woman.
“She didn’t react, so she agreed.”
False.
Such statements, heard far too often, reflect a deep misunderstanding of survival mechanisms.
Freezing (also known as the “freeze” response) is an automatic physical reaction, just like fight or flight. It’s neither a choice nor a sign of weakness.
In the event of an assault, the brain can literally shut down. This reaction affects up to 70% of sexual violence victims (Source: INSERM).
Yet it remains widely misunderstood, even judged.
What the Numbers Say: A Silenced Reality
- 94,000 women report being raped or almost raped each year in France (INSEE).
- Fewer than 10% file a complaint.
- Less than 1% of assaults result in a conviction (Source: Public Sénat, 2024).
- In over 8 out of 10 cases, the attacker is someone the victim knows.
These numbers show the real question isn’t “Why didn’t she fight back?” but rather “Why is she still the one who has to explain herself?”
Self-Defense: Much More Than Throwing Punches
Today, many trainers offer a broader and more realistic vision of women’s self-defense:
- Saying no clearly, without apologizing.
- Setting verbal boundaries.
- Leaving without guilt.
- Practicing simple, effective techniques.
- Working on posture, breathing, and mindset.
- Knowing your rights, your options, and how to ask for help.
As instructor Céline puts it:
“Self-defense isn’t necessarily about hitting. It’s about reclaiming your body, your emotions, and your choices.”
A Tool for Empowerment and Sisterhood
Women’s self-defense classes are also spaces for collective healing:
- Sharing experiences.
- Mutual support and empowerment.
- Regaining confidence after trauma.
Some women, like Anne-Françoise, 72, describe it as a turning point in their lives:
“I realized I could still learn to defend myself. It’s a strength no one can take from me.”
Conclusion: Yes, Women Can Defend Themselvesm, Just Not Like in the Movies
Self-defense doesn’t always mean fighting back.
Sometimes, it’s saying no.
Or not answering.
Or running away.
Or simply surviving.
It’s also demanding the right not to always be on alert.
Women’s self-defense is a skill, but also a right.
by admin | May 24, 2025 | Blog
The question “Why didn’t you scream?” often comes up after an assault. It’s hurtful, unfair… and above all, it ignores a neurological reality: the freeze response.
The Freeze Response: A Brain Reaction
Freezing is an automatic brain reaction to extreme danger. It causes total paralysis:
- No words
- No movement
- No ability to flee
- You’re frozen, like petrified.
This is not a weakness, not a choice. It’s a survival reflex, as instinctive as breathing.
What Happens in the Brain?
- The amygdala detects danger and triggers intense stress: a surge of adrenaline, cortisol, etc.
- The prefrontal cortex, which handles thinking and decision-making, shuts down.
- The result: the body enters “freeze mode”, like going on standby to survive.
👉 This reaction is common in cases of sexual violence. It’s well-documented in neuroscience and frequently observed in victims (Sources: France Culture, Psychologue.net, EMDR79).
Testimonies of Freezing
“I wanted to scream, but no sound came out. I felt trapped in my own body.”
— Camille, 23
“I was screaming in my head, but outside… nothing.”
— Samira, 34
Toward Legal Recognition?
A proposed law, led by MP Sabrina Sebaihi, suggests recognizing freezing as a form of coercion in the legal definition of rape (Source: Nice-Matin).
Currently, the law requires visible signs of physical resistance (like screaming, fleeing). But freezing prevents any reaction.
Recognizing this would allow us to:
- Better protect victims.
- Adapt the legal standards of evidence to neurological reality.
- Remove guilt from those who were unable to react.
What You Need to Remember
- Not screaming never means giving consent.
- Freezing is a normal, automatic, neurological reaction.
- It’s time for justice and society to fully acknowledge it.
What Now?
- Raise awareness in your circles.
- Train professionals in healthcare, justice, and education.
- Listen to victims with empathy, not judgment.
A frozen body didn’t “do nothing.”
It survived.
by admin | May 24, 2025 | Blog
For months, the issue of sexual consent has been at the center of political and societal debate.
Should consent be explicitly written into the law to better define rape?
Some hail the measure as a historic step forward, while others criticize it as a misleading or flawed solution.
What Does the Law Currently Say?
Article 222-23 of the French Penal Code defines rape as any act of sexual penetration committed through violence, coercion, threat, or surprise.
The word “consent” does not appear.
The result: In the absence of proof of physical violence, many complaints are dismissed without further action.
Only 0.6% of rape complaints lead to a conviction (Source: Ministry of Justice).
A Reform Passed — But Highly Debated
In March 2025, the Council of State approved a bill that explicitly states:
“There is no consent when a sexual act is committed without free, informed, specific, and reversible agreement.”
The bill further clarifies that:
- Silence, fear, psychological control, or the inability to say no (due to drugs, freezing, etc.) can no longer be interpreted as consent.
Criticism — Even Among Feminists
Some voices, such as MP Clémentine Autain, warn:
- Focusing the legal definition of rape on consent may increase the burden of proof on victims.
- Proving one didn’t consent could shift attention away from the aggressor’s actions.
Another issue:
- Consent can be distorted in power-imbalanced relationships (e.g., psychological control, workplace hierarchy, financial dependence…).
What About Other Countries?
- Sweden (2018): Passed a consent law → Increase in complaints and convictions, backed by a major awareness campaign.
- Spain (2022): Adopted a similar law after the “La Manada” scandal → Significant public awareness, but inconsistent application.
- UK / Canada: Consent is part of the law, but little progress due to lack of training and resources for the justice system.
A Symbolic Step Forward… But Not Enough on Its Own
This reform sends a clear message:
Sex without consent is rape.
But without deeper change:
- In the justice system, to support victims and train judges.
- In mentalities, to eradicate rape culture.
- In funding, to ensure effective enforcement…
…it won’t be enough.
Conclusion: A Useful Law, But Not a Magic Solution
Good idea: It clarifies the law, brings France in line with international standards, and provides better protection for some victims.
But beware: Poor implementation could end up putting even more focus on the victim, rather than the perpetrator.
The Key?
- More justice
- More prevention
- A cultural shift to uproot rape culture
And you — what do you think?
Can this law make a real difference? Or do we need to go further?
We want to hear your thoughts. Share your opinion in the comments.
