Back Off: How to Confront and Stop Sexual Harassment and Harassers [Paperback]

Martha Langelan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1993

Back Off! is filled with real-life success stories from women who have stopped harassers cold: - Sharon, who succeeded in stopping a whole crew of habitual harassers in a city park . . . - Stephanie, a ten-year-old who confronted and escaped a child molester . . . - Catharine and Molly, who stood up to their landlord and stopped him from harassing the tenants . . . and dozens more. From an eight-year-old who successfully challenged two young harassers on the playground to an organized group of fifty women who confronted a dockworker in response to an attempted rape on the job, here's what they did, how they did it - and how you can do it, too. Back Off! is the first book to focus on the direct-action tactics that work and the first to deal with harassment everywhere it takes place, in both blue-collar and white-collar jobs, at school, on the street, on the bus or subway, in the park, even in church. Back Off! examines the dynamics of sex and power in sexual harassment, the motives behind harassers' actions, and why traditional responses such as appeasement or aggression don't work, and describes the successful resistance strategies that you really can use - including nonviolent personal confrontation techniques, group confrontations, administrative remedies, and formal lawsuits.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone (July 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671788566
• ISBN-13: 978-0671788568
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,069,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Back Off! How to confront and stop sexual harassment, May 1, 2000

By 

C Clancy (Belmont, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Back Off: How to Confront and Stop Sexual Harassment and Harassers (Paperback)

Just excellent! This book provides a critical missing link in the education of women of all ages. It teaches us how to stand up to and STOP the sexual harassment that is so pervasive in our lives.

It teaches you how to eliminate the rewards ( like ego boosts, power trips ) and at the same time introduce negative consequences to men who sexually harass women ( public humiliation, embarassment, loss of job, etc.)

It is written candidly, with humor and insightful real-life examples of harassment situations, and empowering stories how women - and male allies - stopped harassment with dignified, principled confontations.

Sexual harassment motives are clearly explained. Time-tested methods of effective confrontation are clearly outlined, with plenty of examples that any woman could use the next time she is harassed.

Every girl and woman should have these priceless verbal skills - as well as good self-defense training - in this day and age.

Our whole society suffers from the ripple effects of sexual harassment. Harassers, on a larger scale cause distrust and other negative reprecussions from women towards all men in general. Everyone, men and women suffer the consequences.

This book now shows our male allies how they can help. Many good men out there are also tired of witnessing sexist mistreatments of women around them, and are more than willing to back us up on this!

Men learn how to withdraw male approval and hold other men accountable for sexist behavior, effectively removing any peer approval or male bonding type rewards.

This book shows how we can all turn the tables on harassers and finally stop the inexcusable, hostile behavior that is sexual harassment .

I highly recommend this book - and get a copy for all the women and girls in your life you care about too!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for every woman out there!, June 14, 2006

By 

K. Randall (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Back Off: How to Confront and Stop Sexual Harassment and Harassers (Paperback)

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK! I had the privilege of meeting and attending one of the author's self defense classes in DC. Martha gives great advice for these seemingly hopeless and degrading situations. She stresses keeping control and using words in a productive way to fight back. And it is reflected in this book.

She is a small woman, about 5'2" and appears not at all aggressive, so she can relate to just about all of us. And she knows what she's talking about!

Yes, it's confrontational, but because that is how you deal with sexual harrassment. You cannot be vague in your request to a harrasser to stop. You must be clear, in control and direct when you confront, or you will not be taken seriously. And that is what I got from her book and her class.

This book has given me great insight on how to deal with different situations that we, as women, face every day. And from each story, you see how effective the power of your words are. I was actually quite shocked to see how effective it really was.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars back off, November 30, 2010

By 

michael joseph "michael" (VA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Back Off: How to Confront and Stop Sexual Harassment and Harassers (Paperback)

Back off is a great book for anyone needing to take a stand for themselves.
The book was shipped super fast. I would recommend it to any one. And if
anyone was able to take the classes offered by the author I recommend the class 100%.

No one should be sexually harassed ever.