PEOPLE’S ATTITUDE AND PERSPECTIVE ON WOMEN SELF-DEFENSE IN PUBLIC SPACES

Abstract

Worldwide, violence against women approximately 736 million women faced gender-based violence while as per a news report, in Pakistan 85% of women facing harassment mostly in public places in the term of verbal-abuse, threats, mental torture and inappropriate gesture, particularly in public-transport. Therefore, using Self-defense skills or training in the above-mentioned harassments scenario can reduce or eliminate the consequences and likelihood of unwanted physically and mentally harm, as well as empower women politically and mentally for the struggles they will face in public and private domains. Laterally, public opinion is useful voice in the movement for legal reform. Thus, the purpose of this survey was to capture public attitudes and perceptions about women's self-defense strategies. Total 501 questionnaires were sent out and returned. Among these 501 participants, of whom 360 (71.85%) were female and 141 (28.14%) were male. The findings of this study, women are frequently exposed to public spaces and more likely to be attacked. Moreover, those women who receive self-defense training have superior physical and mental skills that enable them to protect themselves from attackers compared to those who do not and improved self-efficiency in women can lower their risk of becoming victims. Surprisingly, self-defense training or skills especially for women can reduce violence against them but unfortunately mostly individuals didn’t aware of self-defense training and mostly women don’t carry any safety equipment’s e.g. knife. Interestingly highest number of responses were in favor of to seek self-defense training, courses or skills by attending 1–2-hour class per weeks or short courses 1-2 weeks.