The Gift of Fear Protects Women & Girls: Notes on Gavin de Becker

Gavin de Becker is a debated voice in the violence prevention field. He’s most well known for his book, “The Gift of Fear” which is written from a security perspective and meant to give tips to people on practicing awareness to reduce victimization. Some women feel he comes from a victim-blaming/shaming mentality, putting the onus on women to be constantly vigilant against male violence. Others feel better informed and thankful for de Becker’s self-defense tips. As a man, he is only able to view feminist issues as an ally so he of course lacks a robust class analysis. The book itself is written for a general audience, not specifically for women. This quote illustrates some of his shortcomings. He hilariously parrots one of the most famous feminist observations but doesn’t credit Margaret Atwood for her words. Entitlement is hard to override when it’s all you’ve ever known, even when you try to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. He wants women to gain more power and control and this intention is clear in many of his words. I think there is alot to gain from reading this book, while allowing space to critique and provide the missing feminist analysis. I recommend comparing the different reactions to his theories. They illustrate the importance of nuance and open-mindedness when we educate ourselves on a subject. There is no perfect expert or piece of advice. Look for the nuggets of useful information while critically analyzing and sharing dissent.

📚 Resources to Explore:

• “Gavin de Becker's Safety Tip for Women” on Oprah's Lifeclass | Oprah Winfrey Network (YouTube)

• “The Gift of Fear” by Gavin de Becker

  
  

✍️ Journal Reflection Prompts:

• How does this quote make you feel and why?

• How does “all-or-nothing” thinking influence your view of the world?

• What are the positives and negatives of violence prevention ideology?

• What are the strengths of Gavin de Becker’s viewpoints?

• What are the weaknesses of Gavin de Becker’s viewpoints?

• What would you add to his interpretations?

• How do we arm people with knowledge while avoiding victimization shame and blame? Is it possible?