12 Safety Tips That Could Save Your Life Or Your Purse
As women, it’s just a fact that we often feel vulnerable when out in public and are often the victims of crimes like theft because we’re regarded as the weaker sex. However, even if women have less physical bulk than men, we can still use our feminine strengths to protect ourselves if the need arises.
One time, when I was transferring trains at a small station in France, I was inside looking at my train time when I saw a sketchy-looking guy in ratty clothes pass by the doorway, stop, look at me, and then creepily start walking toward me. There was no one nearby except out on the platform, which was behind the man, so I quickly grabbed my suitcase and walked fast straight toward the guy (which he definitely didn’t expect because he stopped and looked somewhat shocked). I passed by him, making intense eye contact for a split second (so he’d see I wasn’t afraid of him), then power-walked to the outside platform where I stood near an old couple and a station officer. The guy came out again and stood near me while I waited to board. I boarded my train as he sat rolling a cigarette, staring at my window every once and a while.
That was the closest I came to a mugging situation, and although my heart was beating out of my chest afterward, I kept my cool (thanks to my self-defense coach).
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Everyday Safety
I always recommend that a woman take self-defense classes if she is traveling. I took Krav Maga classes myself. But at the very least, I think every woman should know some self-defense techniques for everyday life activities such as shopping and getting gas!
People usually think you have to watch your purse and your safety if you’re traveling to a foreign country, which is definitely true, but people often get mugged walking in their own city, exiting a bank or the grocery store or even the office. One of my self-defense coaches told me to always be alert the minute I stepped foot outside my door.
Theft can happen during daily travel in your local area, and it’s a known fact that most girls who are raped are molested by someone known to them. Children, teens, and young adult women can be raped by a boy or a teacher at school, a strange guy who seemed nice at first, a neighbor, a family friend, or boys at a party – not just by a random guy on the street they had never seen before. Human trafficking is also now at its highest activity. Unfortunately, this is real life in the world we live in. It’s not healthy to succumb to a fear mentality and think you can’t ever go anywhere, but you do need to practice street smarts. There are ways to avoid bad situations and, if need be, defend yourself.