10 Mistakes Made by Women That Could Lead to Victimization
Women of all ages always have been and unfortunately probably always will be victims of violent crimes such as rape. It can happen to anyone, anywhere, young and old. But it can be prevented by becoming more aware. These are some top 10 mistakes women make in their everyday lives that could possibly lead to them becoming victims of a violent crime:1. Believing it could never happen to you. Every woman who has ever been raped has probably thought this at one time or another. The truth is that it can happen to anyone and every woman needs to be aware of this.
2. Believing no one would want to hurt you, or that rape only happens to beautiful women who wear tight fitting clothes. This is being naive. Actually, rapists look for women wearing loose fitting clothes that are easy to rip off. They also do not care about their victim’s feelings or whether or not they hurt anyone. They only want control of their victim.
3. Getting into a car with a stranger or someone who has a weapon and is demanding you into the car. This is a mistake that will very likely get you killed. Once you are in a car with an assailant, he will take you to a remote place where no one can witness his crimes. Instead, this is the time to fight, scream, use pepper spray or a stun gun, vomit if you can – anything to attract attention and repulse the attacker into letting you go. DO NOT GET IN THE CAR.
4. Walking alone in your neighborhood after dark because you believe nothing could happen to you in your own neighborhood. Assaults can happen anywhere and very often do happen close to your own home. If you must walk alone at night, take a dog which is the best deterrent, or a can of pepper spray or a stun gun.
5. Walking or jogging alone in a wooded area listening to your Ipod and not carrying a weapon. Again, many women do this with the belief that nothing bad could happen to them. If you can’t find someone to walk or jog with, once again I would recommend taking a dog, even if it is a friend’s dog. Also, carry pepper spray or a stun gun. One form of pepper spray comes in a dumbbell type weight you carry in the your hands while jogging or walking. It isn’t obvious that there is a hidden canister of pepper spray within the hand held weight, so it is very handy in case of a sudden attack.
6. Daydreaming while walking to your car in a secluded area or parking garage and not having your keys out and ready to unlock your car. Someone can take you by surprise if you are not paying attention. Also, those few moments you are fumbling in your purse for your keys gives an assailant plenty of time to attack.
7. Going home with someone you meet in a bar after having a few too many drinks. This seems obvious but it is a mistake many women have made and have regretted. Judgment gets skewed after a few drinks and caution goes out the door after a few more. Go drinking with friends and leave with friends. Don’t take the risk of ruining your life, if not losing it, for a one night stand.
8. Leaving windows open at night, especially if living alone. Many assaults and rapes occur by someone climbing through an open window or one with only a screen on it. A screen is easy to cut through by a determined offender. If you live on a ground floor, be sure windows are locked in a position that is not wide enough for anyone to climb through. Use fans or air conditioning on hot nights. Also, there are alarms you can install on your windows that will alert you to anyone trying to enter.
9. Getting together with someone you met online. Some lasting relationships have been found by way of the internet. But many times this is an avenue for sexual predators to use in their search for victims. If you do choose to meet someone you have gotten to know over the internet, meet in a public place and do not go to his home or even back to your own home until you get to know him better over time.
10. Staying in a relationship that is dominated by domestic violence. Any relationship that is controlled by one partner to the extent of emotional and/or physical abuse, financial abuse, spiritual abuse or any other type of controlling methods is not a healthy relationship. Being raped by an intimate partner is a form of control and is never okay whether the two of you are married or not.
These mistakes made by women can be turned around before anything bad happens. Just remember, assault CAN happen to you, so be prepared. Always have some kind of option, some plan of escape, and carry non-lethal self-defense products. It is far better to have them and never need them, than to need them one day and not have them. Be safe out there.
Karleen Lindsey is an advocate for women’s safety without the use of lethal weapons. Check out her Hot Walker Defensive Spray and her Pretender Cell Phone Stun Gun for 2 of her many options for self-defense. Receive a 20% discount on your first purchase over $10 with coupon code 3254.
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