Today, October 2nd, 2023 is International Day of Nonviolence. Hurray! Of course I believe everyday should be nonviolence day. I have spent a good part of the last decade excavating nonviolent practice. I’ve taught courses on nonviolence, I’ve taken part in nonviolent actions. I have delved into scholarship on nonviolence. Still, what remains rare in these discussions lies at the intersection of nonviolence and feminist resistance.
According to the World Health Organization, one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. What tools can a young woman scared out of her mind of an abusive partner implement? Or what can someone certain of an ex-partner’s intent to harm them and or their children do. I’m drawn to these types of questions. Today, I want to share one finding—nonviolence works.
How do I know this? From the numerous accounts of women who have sought help through the justice system by either calling the police on their abuser, seeking to hurt their abuser physically, or taking their abuser to court. So many women have tried this route and found it long, arduous, and un-useful at best and re-criminalizing at worst. Yes, in many cases where a victim involved law enforcement or the court, they found themselves placed on trial and even suffering serious legal consequences.
What type of nonviolence should you employ for your situation? It depends. I predict there are as many forms and combinations of nonviolent resistance as there are people in the world. Gene Sharp of the Albert Einstein Institution has identified 198 types of nonviolent resistance practice. These may be adapted, used in various sequences, and modified to fit particular situations. Nonviolence allows for creativity. So let’s be creative together. This blog will build on these thoughts and many more. Please like, subscribe and share widely.
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