It is the responsibility of every woman to prepare herself in the event she is ever the victim of a crime. While prevention and know-how cannot guarantee a woman’s safety, it can increase her chances of survival, and also boost her confidence.
Preventing an Attack
While some attacks are instances of surprise and come completely without warning, there are certain things a woman can do to prevent an assault from occurring in the first place.
Every woman should:
- Constantly be aware of her surroundings
- Stay in well-lit areas with a lot of people
- Use public transportation when possible, and always sit behind the driver
- If walking alone, she should not wear conspicuous jewelry, or use an expensive cell phone or iPod
- If walking to a parked car, she should always keep her keys ready, and she should check her car before entering it
- She should never leave a car unlocked while unattended
- If someone is following her car, a woman should drive to the nearest police station or a crowded parking lot with a lot of people nearby
- If someone is following her while she is walking, a woman should walk on the opposite side of the road where she can see what is coming toward her, and walk back in the direction she came in to make it more difficult for someone to turn around and continue following her
- Never hitchhike!
- Practice self-defense moves in a controlled, safe environment such as a rape defense course or a martial arts class.
What To Do When Attacked
If a woman is attacked, doing more is almost always better than doing less. First of all, make as much noise as possible. Scream, whistle, and shout for help. If she can run away, she should. If running is not an option, do everything else physically possible.
A woman can use any of the following physical moves against her attacker:
- Gouge his eyes with her thumb
- Hit him under the nose in an upward motion with her palm
- Kick him in the groin or testicles
- Use her hands to grab, pull, and scratch tender places, rather than to punch
- Use her elbows and knees to strike the thigh, throat, stomach and groin of her attacker
- Slam her head into her attacker
- If indoors, she can use chairs or utensils, and if outdoors, she can throw dirt, rocks, bricks or wood pieces
- If she has hair spray or pepper spray, a woman should use it directly in her attacker’s eyes to temporarily blind them and buy her enough time to run away
- If she is wearing a belt, a woman can take it off if possible and use it as a weapon. Handbags and purses also make good striking objects
- She can use her car keys to stab and gouge her attacker
Additional Information
If a woman is interested in learning more about self-defense for women, she can join the Association for Women’s Self Defense Advancement (AWSDA) or Arming Women Against Rape or Endangerment (AWARE).
Remember, while a woman cannot necessarily prevent any single situation from happening, she can arm herself with knowledge and the physical skills to improve her chances of survival during an attack. Preparation can also increase self-confidence, which in itself can act as powerful protection.
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