---

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 7, 1993                   TAG: 9303050025
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

---

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A LADYLIKE PUNCH

I belong to the Women's Karate Union. On Sunday there was an article in the New River Current about our class. The article itself was pretty good, although I suspect it was severely edited.

The headline, however, read: "That Ladylike Punch," and the extended head said "Better not mess with these women, guys. They're not putting up with violence."

First of all, there's no such thing as a "ladylike" punch. A punch is a punch. It doesn't matter who's delivering it; all that matters is that it hurts. By stating that women have "ladylike" punches, the New River Current demeans women and entrenches the ludicrous and reprehensible theory that women are weak, inept and unworthy of respect.

The whole notion of being "ladylike" keeps women from being equal participants in the most basic aspects of human existence. The Women's Karate Union is not about being ladylike. It's about empowerment. It's about validating the right of every person to be respected, competent and safe.

As for the "Better not mess with these women . . . " line, it implies that "guys" can go right ahead and "mess" with other women, since other women will put up with violence. It's exactly this kind of attitude that results in the violence against women that pervades our society.

Until men accept the reality that women are not doormats, not punching bags, not servants, and not objects for contempt, intimidation or tyranny, violence against women will continue. It's unfortunate and disappointing that the New River Current obviously has no commitment to ending that violence.\ Randee Huber\ Radford

---