by Caryn Murray
The idea of a woman being a frail and helpless creature is, luckily, becoming outdated. However, women are still more likely than a man to be victimized. That doesn’t mean you will be a victim, because basic self defense for women begins with eliminating the blinding element of surprise and becoming prepared for anything, at any time.
Preventative Measures
Always Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Younger women are often in dangerous situations without knowing it. While out at a party, bar, or anywhere where alcohol is being served, it’s important to pay close attention to those around you. Never let a drink out of your sight, and never accept an open drink from a stranger.
Stay in a Group
Groups of friends that go out together should leave together! Practice the buddy system and be a good buddy, never leave your friends behind. In situations where you’re alone, stay in a crowded or otherwise public location. Avoid situations in which you are out of sight of others, as this is a very unsafe place to be.
In the Case of an Attack
Gain Extra Time
All too often, the losing point for a woman being attacked is the surprise factor, that is, being caught off guard with no time to think. Many victims have often looked back and felt remorse over the things they could have done to prevent the attack, but without being prepared for an attack, it is impossible to prevent one.
Trust your intuition
If you feel that you’re about to be attacked, create an obstacle between the attacker and yourself that will make it more difficult to get to you. This will buy you extra time to pull your thoughts together.
Attract Attention
There is no guarantee that anybody will come running to help, but there is a possibility of it. However, more importantly, when you scream and yell bloody murder you’re not letting yourself go quietly, something that is often unexpected of female victims. In this situation, you may even startle your attacker by catching him off guard and you can use this extra time to get away.
If All Else Fails
While it is always a good idea for women to carry a bottle of pepper spray, stun gun, or a personal alarm in her purse, many self defense products are not legal in different states. And in any case, it is important to be able to defend yourself against an attacker without using weapons. (That being said, there are objects you may have that can be used to create a substantial amount of pain.)
It is actually better not to take the time to dig something out, as you have two hands and two feet and he has many ultra sensitive areas that you can attack once you have him surprised.
The areas to go after include: Knees, eyes, neck, and (yeah, you guessed it) his groin.
I hope you will never need to use basic self defense, but I hope you will remember these tips just in case because you can never be too safe!
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