What It Means for a Woman to Shout ‘No’

The first day of a self-defense class introduces participants to the concept of saying "no." In a Southern California martial-arts studio, six women—notably four nurses, one flight attendant, and the reporter—gathered to learn how to protect themselves and potentially fight back. Despite growing up with the belief that women should not fantasize about violence, many of them still do. The constant threat of violence, whether immediate or indirect, is a reality that affects women more than anyone else.

The instructor, Dawn Hofmeister, emphasizes that saying "no" repeatedly and loudly helps women assert their boundaries and puts potential assailants on notice that their actions are unwanted. The word "no" can also strengthen a woman's resolve and disrupt a freeze response, allowing her to breathe and counterattack. During the class, participants learn various techniques such as the palm-heel strike, knee strikes to the groin, and stomping to the head.

They also practice verbal strategies like shouting "no" and raising their voices to deter attackers.

However, overcoming the internalized inhibition to hit someone is crucial, as argued by Susan Brownmiller in her 1975 book "Against Our Will." Teaching nonphysical strategies, such as assertiveness, boundary-setting, deflection, and de-escalation, is equally important as teaching physical techniques. The program, called Impact Personal Safety, has taught these skills to tens of thousands of students, focusing on causing a scene by shouting phrases like "Get away from me" and "I don't want this."