Greifswalder fights against violence: A no” is no longer enough!

Greifswalder fights against violence: A no” is no longer enough!

In Greifswald, Julia Groß is passionate about the issue of violence against women. Her personal story is as moving as it is inspiring. Even in her youth she was confronted with aggressive arguments and experienced violent attacks herself. Her colorful clothing from the 90s did not always provide protection, but also led to hostility. But instead of running away, she decided to defend herself, relying on her training in judo and wrestling. This perseverance shaped her future career.

At that time she worked in an asylum home where violence was the sad norm. There, too, her combat training inspired respect and ensured that she could hold her own. These experiences are the foundation for her commitment, which she has been implementing for over 20 years in the form of self-defense courses for women in her hometown. The participants in these courses often bring with them their own harrowing stories in which sexual violence plays a role. Julia Groß sees it as her job not only to teach women fighting techniques, but also to raise awareness of self-protection and personal boundaries.

Prevention and awareness

Groß's courses address the need to set clear boundaries to prevent physical altercations. This is in line with the goals of prevention, which aims not only to prevent violence, but also to create victim-friendly support services. The website women-against-violent.de states that it is crucial to recognize signs of violence and to be approachable at any time. The reactions of trusted people play a key role because affected women need to feel understood and supported in their social environment.

In order to raise awareness of violence against women, Julia Groß is taking part in the “Orange Days” from November 25th to December 10th. This campaign is dedicated to raising awareness of the issue worldwide and aims to ensure that violence against women is no longer acceptable. It emphasizes that responsibility for violent acts always lies with the perpetrators and should not fall on the victims. In this context, educational and awareness-raising measures are also of great importance in order to break down gender-specific stereotypes.

A place for support and learning

Based on her conviction, Groß has created an additional offering in her shop MeerHanf on Kuhstrasse. Every weekday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. she offers free workshops and lectures on topics such as self-care, creative writing for overcoming trauma and relationship work. These formats are not just intended for women, but are intended to provide space for exchange and learning together.

Julia Groß's commitment is part of broader efforts to combat violence against women. It is increasingly recognized that economic equality and education are crucial factors for prevention. The WHO has shown in a study that economic inequality between men and women is an indicator of partner violence. It is therefore essential to integrate the topic into training and further education programs and to stimulate a social discussion about what constitutes healthy relationships.

If you would like to find out more about local initiatives, self-defense courses or support options, you can find out about the current offers on the Ostsee-Zeitung website: Baltic Sea newspaper. Additionally, it's important to look at prevention and support, which is what you're looking for women-against-violence.de can read.