Systemic, social, and interpersonal oppression of women certainly limit the opportunities of women; however, the threat of violence and the cultural message that women are physically incapable of protecting themselves against violence, is ultimately the strongest and most salient oppressor of women. The Sun Devil Combat Sports Association is a student organization, composed mainly of male members that has dedicated themselves to changing the culture of violence against women.
In the fall semester of 2005, the Sun Devil Combat Sports Association collaborated with Sigma Alpha-Alpha Nu Chapter and Student Counseling Services in developing and conducting a four session Women’s Self-Defense Assault and Rape Prevention workshop series at no cost to the participants. The organization’s goal was to provide women on campus and in the community with hands-on, real life, close-quarters self-defense skills. Given that college age women are at the highest risk for acquaintance rape, the need for college age women to have skills to defend themselves in assault situations and to be empowered to use those skills is clearly evident. Since the first self-defense workshop series, the Sun Devil Combat Sports Association has taken it upon themselves to conduct the series every semester. Additionally, the group has also raised awareness of women’s safety issues by effectively promoting the workshops across the Polytechnic Campus.
The SDCSA’s efforts have had a clear and lasting impact on the status of women at ASU as evidenced by the distinct change in the Polytechnic Campus Climate, especially with regard to violence against women, and men’s responsibility for being active participants in working to end violence against women.