The SWAG Method

The SWAG method is a self-defense approach inspired by feminist self-defense, and that centers sex workers’ knowledge and experience of systemic violence.

Feminist self-defense is a set of practices aimed at making our lives safer and increasing our capacity for self-determination and autonomy. Based on martial arts, feminist self-defense stands out by addressing male domination dynamics and violence related to gender and sexuality. It aims not only to strengthen physical defense but also to deconstruct the power relations that make certain individuals particularly vulnerable.

The SWAG method enriches this feminist approach by drawing on the specific experiences of sex workers, who face violence exacerbated by repressive laws and social stigma. Indeed, gender- and sexuality-based violence is intensified by legislative and social contexts that marginalize sex workers. The SWAG method therefore incorporates verbal, physical, and emotional defense strategies, as well as prevention practices, specifically tailored to the lived realities of sex workers, often in workshops organized in non-mixed settings.

Although developed by and for sex workers, the SWAG method can benefit anyone facing violence, assaults, or microaggressions. It offers a framework not only for self-defense but also for protection, mutual support, and claiming one's space and autonomy, within a broader context of fighting against systemic oppression.