Most women know they run the risk of becoming a sexual assault victim, but many do not know how to prevent it. Self-defense programs like Chimera, a nationwide program designed specifically for women, can give women the knowledge and skills needed to protect themselves from assaults.
The Madison program, funded by the Dane County Rape Crisis Center, teaches women verbal assertiveness skills and physical techniques to avert and stop harassment and assault.
“Chimera teaches women they have the right and the ability to protect themselves,” said Cheri Dubiel, resource development coordinator for the Rape Crisis Center.
The program aims to eliminate the notion that women are helpless against sexual assault.
According to the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault, 383,000 sexual assaults were reported in 1999. However, the number reported accounts for only 28 percent of assaults that actually occurred that year, Dubiel said.
“The rate of sexual assault is really unknown,” she said. “The statistics we have are only the [assaults] reported to the police, but most of the people we see who have been sexually assaulted never report it.”
An additional problem is the misconception that strangers commit most sexual assaults.
“The majority of sexual assaults are perpetrated by someone known to the victim — 93 percent in Wisconsin,” Dubiel said. “The way we tend to think about sexual assault is very rare.”
These factors have helped shape the Chimera program. Chimera differs from most traditional forms of self-defense because it emphasizes avoidance of situations that may lead to assault.
Franny Viola, Chimera student promoter, said the program teaches women to speak out when they feel uncomfortable in situations.
“It’s more about attitude than physical strength,” she said.
The program begins by explaining the myths and facts of sexual assault. It then focuses on the effectiveness of resistance and teaches awareness and assertiveness skills. The final segment of the program teaches physical skills and defenses against harassment and assault by acquaintances as well as strangers.
Dubiel said the assertiveness skills are especially effective in deterring potential assaults.
“Sex offenders look for easy victims,” she said. “They target someone who looks meek, someone afraid to yell or afraid to run away.”
Although many people believe resisting an assault is dangerous, the opposite is generally true. The Rape Crisis Center said women who act quickly and aggressively are much more likely to avoid being sexually assaulted than those who plead with an attacker.
Because Chimera stresses avoidance, women of any age or physical ability can to learn the skills. Last year, 1,797 women completed the program. Some women who participated were teenaged, older than age 60 or even physically disabled.
Viola said she encourages students to enroll because even normal situations like walking home from the library at night can be dangerous.
The program usually consists of two or three classes totaling six or 12 hours of training. A six-hour series costs $20 for students and $30 for the general public, and a 12-hour series costs $40 for students and $60 for the general public.
Chimera often holds classes on the UW-Madison campus, although the fall semester programs have already been completed. Upcoming campus series are scheduled for Feb. 2 and 9 and April 3 and 10.
The program offers classes in other Madison locations as well. A series will be held Dec. 1, 8 and 15 at the Midvale Community Lutheran Church, 4329 Tokay Blvd.
Women interested in taking a class should call the Chimera coordinator at 251-5126 to register or for more information.
