Matriarchy oppression another blow for women

I HAVE, for decades, been baffled as to why women have continually been cast into the role of helpless victims, bystanders to their own fate.

We are constantly advised to not resist attack, to “give the criminals/ robbers/rapists what they want”. This often means that we end up surrendering not just our belongings or our bodies, but often our lives too. Or even the lives of those under our care. Boadicea and Jean d’Arc must be weeping inconsolably in Valhalla. They were women, leaders brave and strong, who chose not to be cowed into victimhood.

Victimhood is the fashion statement of the 21st century. We are taught that women have always been oppressed by “the patriarchy”, and victimhood is the cloak we can pull on to cover our shame. Now, if “the patriarchy” were indeed solely responsible for the burdens we have to bear, this would make a strange kind of sense. If our oppression were to be laid squarely at the feet of men, at least there would be a perverted logic to it.

Unfortunately, not every woman cares about her fellow women and their safety, and I use the term “fellow women” here deliberately instead of the popular “sisterhood” cop out – the term itself is an admission of how debased we have become, that the common language must be seen to be altered to suit our status as perpetual victims; in fact, often, other women lead the charge against us. Is this oppression by the matriarchy?

There are women among us who care much more for the perpetrator than for those who suffer at their hands. On the International front, we have Barbara Frey, who has a had huge influence on how nations deal with self-defence. And on the home front, Adele Kirsten, from Gun-Free South Africa, the organisation that wants to disarm everyone – while she shelters behind her armed response.

These women have (apparent) faith that the police and government will protect us from violence. In this sense, they are not anti-gun at all. They are big supporters of a state monopoly on violence. They seem unaware of the realities we have seen unfold in the history books, whenever a state has been allowed to hold absolute power over their people. They are deaf to the lessons of Bergen-Belsen and Rwanda.

And in the real world, the police are usually not present when the violent attack takes place. Women face a heightened risk of violence when they are isolated – when alone with the perpetrator, or when socially isolated and where fellow citizens ignore the violence that is taking place.

In the overwhelming majority of instances when women get attacked, they will be alone. It will be up to them – up to you – to protect themselves, to protect yourself and your family.

I decided a long time ago that I would do everything in my power not to be a victim. This is not a denial of unfortunate realities, but a starting point from which to set out to make this my reality.

What steps can a woman – you, as a woman – take to NOT be a victim?

The signal development that led Western civilisation out of the Dark Ages, that (for the very first time) allowed women to venture out on the streets at night, without the protection of males, was the advent of the pocket pistol. A small (concealable and easily portable) means of protection, that was easily obtained and operated by even the weakest or frailest… but was able to drive off a larger and stronger attacker. The gun, then, embodied civilisation. Why has this been forgotten?

The GOSA Girls On Fire Campaign believes that women are capable of defending themselves. Do not believe women like Barbara Frey and Adele Kirsten, who say if you just give the criminal what he wants, he will just go away – this is not what happens in the real world. If you need to defend yourself, do so in the most effective way possible.