Defending Ourselves: A Guide to Prevention, Self-Defense, and Recovery from Rape

A straightforward approach to handling date rape instructs readers on how to understand the psychological makeup of potential attackers and practice actual defense tactics while offering advice on what to do after a physical assault. Reprint.

In this levelheaded and compassionate book, the founder of an organization that teaches self-defense to all ages addresses some of the key issues of women's safety. Made up of case histories, personal anecdotes, experts' commentary, and solid advice, the book explores what rape is and isn't; how to identify situations in which sexual assault can occur; how to avoid sexual assault; physical self-defense techniques; what to do during and after a rape; how to report assaults and what to expect from police, hospital staffs, and legal systems; how to cope with rape's aftermath; steps toward recovery; and how to get needed help. Wiseman adopts a nonjudgmental stance toward women who have experienced assault; always, she speaks as an advocate and tries to present as many choices for dealing with assault as possible. Because of those qualities, her book may prove particularly useful to younger women still unsure of their rights and boundaries. It is an excellent resource for all women, however, especially on account of the long list of sexual assault crisis centers throughout the U.S. appended to its main text. Mary Ellen Sullivan