Beauty Bites Beast, by Ellen Snortland

llen Snortland is an American actress, producer, self-defense instructor, feminist, author, professor and successful business-woman. She has also studied law. This book: "Beauty Bites Beast" has received high acclaims, but has also received it's fair share of criticism. Well actually, more than it's fair share, if you ask me.

In her own words this is not book on "how-to..", but on "how-come..". Inside the book Snortland presents us to a set of questions, such as:  How come women of today, self-reliant as they are, still (conciously or unconciously) depend on a man to defend them, rather than taking the issue of security and safety into their own hands?, Why leave the fox to guard the hen-house?, And: Is the word feminin equal to weak and defenseless? These are important questions - there's no doubt about it!

The author claims, and I support this 100 percent, that women are capable of taking care of themselves. This also includes in a physical sense, as long as they are taught how to. Snortland's view is that there is a sort of learned helplessness attached to the issue. Indeed we need only go to the females of the animal kingdom to see ferocious aggression as a natural and intrinsic part of protection, gathering food, finding shelter etc. From my own experiences, as well as the findings of others that have worked in psychiatric wards, prisons, as bouncers, police officers etc., I can testify to this: The strenght that any female can produce when the situation arises is truly something else. But because most young girls are "programmed" to submission (being "nice"), it sometimes takes a direct threat against her child to get someone into the rampage mode.

It may be the feminist approach of Snortland that acts as a red cloth to some of her critics. My simple reply is this: Why not run with the ball instead of going for the (wo)man? Why not look at the true issue here, instead of the way that the message is delivered? This book is in no way written as a message of hate towards men, but as a sign of affection, respect and support for the feminine and the female part of our society. Maybe if some of Snortland's critics (men naturally) learned how frightened many women really are of the male violence - being truly scared of intimidations, threats, harassments, rapes, assaults, beatings, battering etc., then we could begin to realize that books like this is more than called for - they are vital for true equality, for the whole of humanity. Remember this: Children that grow up in homes surrounded with violence, will ofte learn and mimic that behavior. Do you really want that?

Another issue that some have against Snortland's book is the fact that she speaks almost solely about the Impact System of self-defense for women. Personally I say: "So what?". The important thing is really that young girls and women alike learn to fight back!

This book should be read by anyone who welcome stronger, safer, less anxious and more self-reliant girls and women. It presents hope and courage to all women, and should be embraced by all men who support them, and who believe in fairness between the sexes. It contains practical advice, great stories, and an abundance of references. I recommend this to men and women, boys and girls alike - this is not a "woman-book", it is a "people-book". Get it!

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