Night, city, girl: how to protect yourself on the street

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Knowing how to stay safe on the street will help girls avoid unpleasant situations on the way home.

The weaker floor is rotten boards.

Faina Ranevskaya

Let's talk about security today. No, not in sex, but in an urban environment, and not for everyone, but specifically for girls. I won't teach guys how to fight (because I don't know how), but a long friendship with an expert in women's self-defense helped me several times to avoid an unpleasant situation on the way from the metro to the entrance. Perhaps this information will help you too.

Plan A: Avoid Attack

It's better not to get sick at all than to be treated later, isn't it? Of course, even very prudent and cautious people are sometimes attacked, but let's think logically: a car can hit you on any road too, but if you cross it at night in a dark alley, being drunk and not looking around, then the chances of close contact with any car that left on the same road, increase.

Don't play against yourself: many risk factors (both increasing and decreasing) are under your control.

Plan B: if you do get attacked, run

It all comes down to fitness and footwear (see risk factors below), but overall your chances of fleeing are much higher than winning a fight.

Don't be heroic unnecessarily.

You can be a very strong girl, but the attacker is stronger.

Plan C: If You Can't Run

This is the worst option, but when the choice is between “surrender” and “fight”, and the enemy is alone and unarmed, it makes sense to try to fight back, win a few seconds and return to plan B.

You are a plus

• If you need to go home at night and finances allow, call a taxi. It is unlikely that traveling around the city in the dark is your daily attraction, and risking yourself because of a one-time saving of 500-600 rubles is nonsense.
• From the metro and stops, go well-known, convenient (short, without difficult sections, labyrinths of garages and the like) and well-lit routes. Well known - because in the event of a chase, you need your sore brain to direct your limbs in the right direction, without hesitation. Convenient - because even the experience of sprint running will not save you from an unsuccessfully protruding driftwood in a forested area. Seconds decide. Illuminated - because in a panic you can crash into something even under the spotlights, and even more so in the dark.
• Notify someone that you are getting off the subway or bus and heading towards the house. In which case they will miss you and go to look for you. If the circumstances are unfavorable (bad area, the only way is poorly lit, late at night, weekends and a bunch of drunks in the area), ask to meet you. Yes, it is expensive, yes, reluctance, but the road will be calmer and more fun in the company.
• Comfortable shoes are our best friend.
• Try to keep your hands free - it’s easier to move. Backpacks and shoulder bags with short handles are preferred.

Don't count on the bag as a weapon. It is unlikely that it will work to slap a person in the face with a package of products so as to cause damage. The maximum you can throw a package in the direction of the attacker in order to gain yourself a second of time.

If you are walking down the street and see someone suspicious nearby, take out your phone and clearly (but not demonstratively loudly) tell your friend / mom that you are almost there. (You can actually call them.) Don't look directly at the subject - this is provoking. Look around, casually glancing over him, as if from his presence you are neither hot nor cold. Continue to move calmly towards the house

You are in the red

• Headphones. If you do not hear that someone is coming up to you from behind, you will have to assess the situation by lifting someone's hands from your throat.
• A separate item is white (light, bright, noticeable) headphones, and not only for the reason stated above. It's just that they are visible a mile away even in the dark, especially against the background of contrasting clothing. If you are unlucky and a bad citizen is hanging around nearby, he will see an easy sacrifice in your face.
• Heels. Of course, I understand that fans of heels will turn a deaf ear to any admonition, just keep in mind that you will not run away from anyone in heels. Don't believe me? Put on your favorite hairpins and run 50 meters on the asphalt. Be smart about your speed and agility (spoiler alert: they'll be somewhere on the level of Dr. House). This does not mean that in the event of an attack, you have no chance. You are just not a runner, but a fighter. More on this below.
• Oh yeah, the heels clink. Clink-clink-clink. The acoustics are excellent on a deserted street. Remember what I said about the white headphones and the easy sacrifice?
• Things that you are not ready to give up. The bags themselves are not such a problem, but if you cling to yours, like Oliver Twist on the last crust of bread, you can say, present yourself to the attacker on a platter. Credit cards are restored, phones are backed up, it is better to carry a passport in your inner pocket, and keep the keys close to your hands. Several thousand cash and the L'Etoile VIP card are not worth your life.

If running is not an option

Let's say you were immediately pushed against the wall. This is not a verdict yet, and it is important to remember one thing: most likely, the attacker does not expect any resistance.

Almost all "success stories" (the girl fought back and ran away) say the same thing.

"He was terribly surprised when I started to struggle."

"He was taken aback when I yelled."

The explanation is simple: aggression from men is taken for granted (anger is almost the only emotion that society allows men to experience without shame), and women are systematically weaned from it. Because it is "not like a woman," and if you scream and rush about, then you are a hysterical sick in the head.

This can be used, because many would-be rapists are not completely hopeless psychopaths, but simply people of low morality who have the opportunity: night, a lonely girl, alcohol in their blood, why not? Such people are often not ready to go to the end in order to achieve their goal, but try on the principle “what if it works out”.

Your task is to clearly explain that you will not give in for nothing.

Shout at the top of your lungs ("Fire!", "They're raping!"

Whether someone helps you or not depends solely on the cowardice of the witnesses. You are not yelling for them, but to knock down arrogance from the attacker.

Push the attacker away. He's almost certainly stronger than you, but if you take him by surprise and give him your best (adrenaline gives strength), you can free yourself and give up.

To beat or not to beat - how lucky. You, most likely, do not know how to fight, and your blows to the most accessible places (torso, arms) will seem like mosquito bites to a large man. You can hit the legs, since you are almost exactly lower than the enemy, your legs are a sore spot (bones are close, clothes are less dense), and heels can come in handy here. Getting a good aimed knee kick to the crotch is not a trivial task, and a failed attempt can greatly anger an attacker.

If there is no other way out, aim at the eyes (with your fingers, nails, keys). It is also difficult to hit them, but this is the most vulnerable zone of any person. But be prepared for an answer: one good man's blow to the face - and you will not rise.

Do not stand in a pillar, spin, kick, do not let him swing.

If he is armed

The rapist has a knife and can you escape? Run as you have never run in your life. You can not? One hit and you are dead. If not immediately, then in half an hour. Act as you see fit, there are no universal rules here, and I cannot tell you to “surrender, endure and hope to survive”.

About pepper spray

It hurts like hell to get a portion of the burning mixture in your eyes, and it would seem that this is our ultimate weapon. There is only one problem: it is extremely imprecise. If you do decide to get one, remember the following.

• A spray can is useless at the bottom of a bag full of cosmetics and gadgets. The perfect place for it in the side pocket. Train in advance to get it instantly: in a panic, your hands can shake, all thoughts valuable for survival evaporate from the brain, and the presence of muscle memory can save you. And if there is a suspicion that they are about to rush at you (steps behind your back, for example) - get it right away. It is better to look ridiculous than regret it later.
• Do not use the can in an enclosed area such as an elevator. You will shower yourself no less than the attacker.
• Even in an open space, the best position for spraying is as follows: stretching out the hand with the balloon towards the attacker, leaning the torso and head in the opposite direction, covering the eyes and mucous membranes with the free hand. Press the button, move your hand in the air (remember that the weapon is inaccurate and the attacker will dodge) and - run!

• You can go to the park and practice by directing the jet towards the trunk of a tree. Estimate the spread of fluid in space. You will not develop immunity to it, but at least you will understand what to expect.
• The effectiveness of the can is greatly reduced by the cold, so it is better to warm it by hand in winter.

Summary

The only way I can end this article is: I hope you never have to apply these tips. Be careful, take care of yourself and value your life.

If you have any experience of surviving in such situations or your valuable advice, share in the comments. Perhaps you can help someone.