Crime and attacks on women in public places still happen all the time. 1 out of every 6 women in America has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. Staying safe is a reality we unfortunately have to deal with as females in particular, but with the right knowledge we can feel confident in doing so.
Have you ever felt like you were being followed? Have you ever wondered what you would do if someone tried to attack you? Here are a few tips for safety that I think all women should practice.
Being aware of your surroundings
Being aware of your surroundings can be essential to your safety. If you’re walking alone, try not to place all of your concentration on your phone screen and instead scan the world around you. You should know what’s going on around you and exactly where you are. If you are walking through a parking lot at night, don’t be afraid to ask an official security guard to be an escort to your car, and always check your back seat before getting inside. Many women are abducted in parking lots (there are many hiding places for predators!) so this is the optimal time to be fully aware of your surroundings.
Projecting confidence
Walking with your head up and standing proudly will project confidence and deter any potential attackers who may be looking for unsuspecting women. If your body language suggests that you won’t be taking any crap from anybody, you will be far less likely to be met with a dangerous circumstance.
Protecting yourself from car-jackings
Keeping your car locked at all times and your windows rolled up. Most car-jackings will happen at intersections, where the criminal can quickly approach your door from your blind spot to hop in the passenger seat or pull you from yours. When my mom was younger, a man approached her car and wedged his leg in front of her door so she wasn’t able to close it. Thinking quickly, she threw her hands on the horn to draw attention and he ran off.
Carrying protection
Pepper spray is always a good option for women to carry in their bags. If pepper spray is legal in your area, check out THESE personal portable options. In some areas, however (like here in Canada), pepper spray is illegal.  With safety in mind, you might also want to carry protection against dogs. This spray contains a formulation very similar to – though slightly less potent than – pepper spray for humans. At 1.0% major capsaicinoids, this is the same strength used for protection against human aggressors in New York. THIS ONE is my favourite because it’s convenient and just the right size. I also carry THIS personal alarm wherever I go. It looks like a USB stick and projects a sound of 110dB which is audible up to 600 feet away. All you do is pull the pin out to set it off and draw attention to an emergency.
Stop posting your locations on social media
With check-in features on Facebook and tagging your location on Instagram, you’re giving criminals access to your exact location. You should really read this post I wrote a while back called Privacy Tips For Your Online Life and take note of the Instagram bit. If you MUST post your location, do it as you are leaving the venue instead of as you arrive.
Defending yourself
If things get ugly, do not lose your power. You have every right to defend yourself and shouldn’t be afraid to get physical (unless of course he’s holding a gun to your head). It is your legal right to defend yourself physically, even if the attacker has only threatened you and not yet struck. No matter the size of your attacker, there are a few areas that will always be vulnerable, such as the eyes, throat, shins, and groin. Aim for these and create an opportunity to escape.
Escaping
If you find yourself in a questionable circumstance, escaping is your best option. A lot of the time, a criminal will try to lure you away from the scene. It is important that you DO NOT follow. Never get in a vehicle with someone you don’t know. Instead, do what you can to attract attention. Make loud noises, yell “FIRE!”, throw a rock at a window, throw your purse one way and run the other. Do whatever you can to distract the attacker and run away as soon as you have the chance.
Over to you: Have you ever been in an unsafe situation or have any other tips?
This post was written as a collaboration with Sabre to help keep women safe.
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These are excellent tips, Dana! Thanks for helping us be aware.
I love this post, and it really speaks to me! I was assaulted and robbed in London a few years ago, one of the reasons being (I think) that I didn’t seem aware of my surroundings as I was listening to my headphones. I actually took my headphones out and put them away when heading into a side street, thinking it was an appropriate measure for safety, when really I shouldn’t have had them in at all when walking alone in the dark.
HOWEVER, one tip I will always give someone who finds themselves in a situation where you are ‘held’ by someone stronger than you (and one I remember reading on Tumblr years ago), is to throw the items they want AWAY from you – don’t give it to them! I chucked my iPhone to the ground instead of handing it to him, and he immediately let me go in order to pick it up and run.
Thanks for sharing this <3
— LisaLDN.com
That’s an awful experience, Lisa!! I’m glad you were okay and your tip is great 🙂 xox
Thank you, Dana! And thanks again for bringing this topic up 🙂 Small, simple measures can do so much! xx
It always astounds me how we spend so much energy on teaching girls how to stay safe rather than teaching boys not to rape. We shouldn’t have to ask a security guard to escort us to our car or worry about posting our location on Instagram. The fact that posts like this still need to be made shows what a fucked up society we live in. I’m not having a go at you, I think it’s great that you are trying to help people, I just wish you didn’t have to.
Beth xx
http://www.myfunsizeddlife.blogspot.co.uk
Beth, I totally agree with you. It’s a shame that we even need these kinds of posts and reminders, and I’ve always thought the same thing about raising boys right. Unfortunately these are still things us women have to deal with. Hopefully in the future things will begin to change!
xox Dana
YES. Absolutely YES. It’s everywhere though… as a generation we’re particularly ignorant of where problems stem. It’s the men, not us.
Unfortunately I have been mugged when I was in high school, I was walking home and surprisingly, I was in the middle of a street, unsurprisingly, I was fully suppressed on my phone. That’s what they went for, I got hit in the stomach so I dropped my phone, but luckily that’s all they did, and then they ran off. I wish I had these tips back then to defend myself, but I’ve learnt my lesson and I never get my phone out when I’m walking outside.
I think this post is really helpful and I thank you for teaching girls who will read this to stay safe <3
http://www.ajourneyingsoul.com
That’s really scary, especially to have been hit! I’m glad you are ok! xox
I was followed by 3 guys on the way home last October while I was walking on a shortcut and they only went off when I got on to the main street, it was one of the scariest experiences I’ve ever faced! Honestly I wish people would start looking out for each other even in public, doesn’t matter if you know the other person, I think help should be given if you sense something’s wrong x
http://www.thegirlfromthenorth.com
That’s really intimidating… 3 guys! We should, you’re right!
Holy hell, 1/6 is the actual ratio now?! That’s freaking INSANE. Unfortunately, I’m part of that statistic. It’s a serious issue and there’s just not enough information out there for women, young or old, to feel prepared.
Although the body language tip might help in some circumstances, it can also seem “provocative.” Bitch face can help with this dilemma 😉 The alarm is an interesting idea… but also having cops on speed dial might help. It’s important to be able to get tough when it’s necessary. Taking martial arts helped me a lot with that…
http://www.MARINASAYS.com
That’s a good idea too with the speed dial. I’m not sure what the average response times are for police so I’m not sure I’d feel 100% confident to rely on police alone, which is why I like to carry my own protection too ;). Both together are a great idea. Better to be prepared, right!?!
If 1 out of 6 is the rate in the US, I wonder what’s that in the Philippines. I guess I’ve been fortunate enough not to get assaulted by anyone up front but I did get a sort of creepy person who got my number somehow and had been sending me sexually offensive messages. I’ve been scared for weeks. I had to change my number, and even change my profile name on Facebook to something that’s not my actual name. That was probably 2 years before I started my blog. Anyway, that was an experience I hope to never encounter ever again. I feel much safer now with my boyfriend. But still, I’m thinking of learning some martial arts to be able to protect myself. I do like your keychain alarm. I think it’s pretty handy.
Thanks for writing this! I live in quite a shady area of London right now and I always find walking with confidence when alone at night helps. Even if I’m panicking and trying to get home as quickly as possible, I always act as though I’m not afraid and I’ve been fortunate enough not to have any trouble
Sophie | Dreams and Colour Schemes
Such a helpful post! When I was around 16/17 me and a friend of mine found ourselves in a tricky situation on our way to school. We had to get the police involved and they also gave us one of those personal alarms. A keyring that will set off if we removed the pin. Very helpful!
http://www.sandrafsilva.blogspot.co.uk