How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Sexual Assault and Rape
By: Richard Armen
Submitted: 2009-11-22 05:24:31 | Word Count: 575
Believe it or not, there are a few things that women can do to prevent sexual assault or rape. Potential victims can be prepared to fend off an assault and be proactive in avoiding situations that may lead to sexual assault.
When going to parties or bars, always tell a friend where you are going, and stay in a group whenever possible. Watch your drink, and never set it down to go to the restroom or for any other reason. Don t accept an already poured drink from anyone, even an acquaintance, because this leaves open the opportunity for a date rape drug to be added to your drink. Keep track of how many drinks you ve had, and avoid becoming so intoxicated that you would be unable to stop unwanted sexual advances.
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Sexual assaults can also happen when you re out and about. Perhaps you re at the grocery store late at night. You return to your car in the empty parking lot, and as you near your car, someone grabs you from behind. Avoid becoming distracted anytime you re by yourself, including parking lots, walking between buildings, or going for a jog. Be aware of anyone around you, no matter where you are or what time of day it is. If you re heading to your car after shopping, don t be afraid to ask for a security escort.
No matter where you are, avoid looking like someone who would be easily attacked. Women with longer hair, particularly ponytails, are more likely targets than those with short hair, because their hair is easier to grab. Attackers may also look for women wearing loose fitting (and easily grabbed) clothing. Avoid wearing high heels if you think you re somewhere you may encounter trouble; they will make it much harder for you to run away, if needed. How you carry yourself also makes a difference; walk confidently, with your head up, rather than slowly and with your head down.
If you can offer any resistance at all, an attacker is more likely to give up. They are expecting little resistance. To fight back, don t just use your arms and legs. Arm yourself with a self defense product, like pepper spray or a stun gun, to resist sexual attackers. These will not only give you confidence, but also provide a means to fight back against sexual attacks. Some pepper sprays even contain UV dye that will mark your attacker s face for later identification. Other products that can help protect your safety include personal alarms, as well as keeping your cell phone with you and turned on at all times.
An excellent choice for preventing sexual assaults is to carry a disguised self defense product. For example, carry a canister of pepper spray disguised to look like a pen. A surprising number of sexual attacks are perpetrated by victims acquaintances. If you begin to have a bad feeling about a situation, you can pull out a pepper spray pen to write down his number or for any number of other excuses, just in case you need to use it to stop an attack.
As a woman, do not make the mistake of thinking that you ll never be attacked. The unfortunate reality is that thousands of women are attacked and raped every year. Be prepared with a self defense weapon, and know what to do to minimize your chance of falling victim to such attacks.
Author Resource:-
Remember the movie with Jodie Foster called "The Accused"? That was what pushed me over the edge and made me start helping women protect themselves. Our motto at http://www.resistattack.com is "Keeping your world safe" and our focus is enabling you and your family to protect themselves.
