Media and self-defense

Women's self-defense
Illustration - from Flickr.com

Meg Stone has a precise and very true observation in jamaicaplaingazette.com about how the media seems to ignore - or at least appears to underplay - a very important fact about women and self-defense actions.

Stone has the same experience as yours truly - it is proven countless of times, and beyond a shadow of a doubt how women are capable of defending themselves in situations where the attacker is male and very likely much stronger. In fact there are several thousands (and growing) cases being documented: Women Can.

By failing to focus on the facts of the matter, it may be that men as well as women may think that your only viable option is to get help from the authorities/police, a male companion, or begin carrying a gun for protection. Now, there is probably nothing wrong with being able to trust in outside help, as long as you don't take away the individual's trust in herself and her own abilities before anything else!

A sad but rather obvious fact is that you will often times be alone, and that you will need to stand your own ground. Any help will many times come in after the fact - or in addition to your own self-defense maneuvers.

A closer reading of the article reveals that this woman successfully defended herself by using her voice and shining a flashlight in the would-be assailant's face. In response to her actions, the assailant fled, but not before she got a physical description, which she gave to the police. Most importantly, this woman's bravery and fast thinking kept her from sustaining serious injuries. Unfortunately, this woman's successful self-protective actions are nowhere to be found in the Gazette's headline or the opening paragraph of the article.

In the above article, the author makes a reference to the National Crime Victimization Survey. It's undoubtedly a good idea to read it and make up your own mind.

In any case, the author makes a very good point in my opinion, and you should definitely give it a read. I'm also curious as to what your perspective is on this issue. Feel free to post below, re-tweet or post to Facebook!

Domestic violence

Here are some quite interesting -- and perhaps even shocking -- statistics about domestic violence arrests (from mirror.co.uk):

UK -- Researchers have found that female suspects are proportionately more likely to be arrested when police investigate allegations of domestic violence.

Despite the fact that women were the victims in 91 per cent of cases, police detained female suspects once in every three incidents, according to a study.

T put things in perspective, men, which are the offenders in 92 per cent of cases, are arrested only once in every 10 incidents.

A Bristol University researcher (Prof Marianne Hester), said the difference was because women were more likely to arm themselves during rows.

She said that women were using a weapon nearly always in self-defense which is treated as a more serious offence.

Brian Moore, Association of Chief Police Officers' lead on domestic violence, said: "It is often only after arrest that an investigation establishes a history of violence."

692 people held for domestic abuse between 2001 and 2007 were studied by a team lead by Prof Hester.

Women's Self-Defense Tips

Just a quick heads up about a new lense (small web-page): Women's Self-Defense Tips I've set up on Squidoo. Check it out today!

As always, feel free to give feedback and comments. Anything special you would like to see added?

New woman's self-defense resource

In addition to our bi-weekly 'Women Can' reports, we have added another (also free) female selfdefense resource for you: 'Women's Self-Defense Tips'.
This is a weekly quick read - to-the point "tips and tricks". Make sure you sign up today by clicking below.

Your home, your castle?

Your home may not always be your castle.

Now I'm not saying it is dangerous to be at home - far from it. What I am saying is that we tend to worry about sexual assaults by strangers outside - and forget that we are basically at greater risks at home.

You can read more about the statistical evidence and other facts here.

Stories:
In a North Philadelphia neighborhood, several sex assaults and burglaries occurred during one week, according to myfoxphilly.com. Over three days, three women were attacked, according to reports.

Police said each of the assaults happened in the early morning hours against women, alone at their residences. In each of the cases, the attackers reportedly entered the homes through unlocked doors or screened windows.

Also, a 40-year-old woman told how a man followed her into her apartment building in Center City (Philadelphia) around 1:30 a.m. Saturday. The suspect allegedly forced her to the ground and choked her. He also threatened to kill her and attempted to sexually assault her. The intended victim was able to fight the assailant off, police said.

In an earlier case from Philadelphia (July, 2007), two women were sexually assaulted in upscale Philadelphia neighborhoods. Police believed the attackers entered the homes through open doors.

"I'm shocked because it's always been a safe neighborhood," another woman said at the time.

A very cautious girl

"I'm a very cautious girl," this assault victim says. If that's the case, then it scares me to even think what being less cautious implies.
I mean, having your head down, and listening to your voicemail outside a nightspot at closing time... Oh yes, very cautious indeed!

Story:
In Springfield, Missouri, police are investigating a spate of downtown attacks on a women, according to ky3.com .

The latest assault occurred on Saturday, April 26. According to reports, there have been at least five reports of attacks in or near downtown since the beginning of 2008. The victims have been women in all but one incident.

The woman who reported the latest attack said it happened on a sidewalk. She had just stepped outside the nightclub just around closing time.

In three similar incidents, the victims said they were outside downtown nightclubs right after closing times.

"I never would have thought it could happen in just a little couple seconds that that took to happen," the Saturday assault victim said in an interview.

"I'm a very cautious girl; all my friends are," she said. But that wasn't enough to keep her out of danger. "I did have my head down listening to my voicemail and next thing led to another and I turned around and there he was," she said.

The woman says she just left the nightclub as it was closing down. She came around a corner to listen to her voicemail. She was alone and that's when she says the attacker pinned her hands above her head with one of his hands, then used his other hand to assault her.

The woman says she screamed for help and a stranger from across the street ran over to help. When he did, the attacker ran off.

Other victims haven't been as fortunate according to reports. Three similar incidents reported to police have much in common. They were all after closing, all outside downtown bars, all reported rapes and all listed a popular nightspot as a place where victims had been earlier in the evening.

Message (with) a bottle

I guess the bottle of coke won this round... :-)

Story:
Florida -- It is reported that a woman and her bottle of coke were unharmed after fighting off a robber armed with an umbrella in Tampa, according to abcactionnews.com

Police said a mother and daughter team armed with an umbrella attempted to rob the woman who fought back with a bottle of Coca-Cola.

The 44-year-old victim was attacked as she was getting into her car at a food mart. The 45 year old female robber threatened the victim with an umbrella, telling her to hand over her purse.

Using a formidable 2-liter Coke bottle, the intended victim fought back, hitting the robber several times, police said.

The umbrella wielding robber was forces to flee -- without the purse -- in a vehicle reportedly driven by her 26-year-old daughter.

Great, free self-defense content

I'm really excited about being able to bring you this link to great, FREE content!

Since you are here you are most likely interested in self-defense in general, perhaps even self-defense for women i particular? In any case, you should immediately rush over to:

Jujitsu.no/women-can

From that page you can sign up for my bi-weekly and brand new report 'Women Can'. These self-defense success stories are all taken from the e-book series "I Hear You Say Women Can't Defend Themselves".

And not only will I be sending out new incident rapport every 14 days. You will also find analysis of the incidents, plus valuable tips and pointers.

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Rape facts

Some people may perhaps still believe that rape often times involve some perverted stranger jumping out from behind bushes late at night.

The figures below should indeed points to the undisputible, statistical facts that the assault rape by some "lurking weirdo" is not as prevalent as one might be led to believe by watching the news.

Of course, assault rape by total strangers do happen ... in fact you may read about hundreds upon hundreds of such cases in my e-book series: Women Can. And these are only cases where women fought back successfully.

Still, most rapes and attempted rapes are done by someone the victim knows, like a neighbour. And even though the below story is from India, it is really universal in nature.

Story:
India -- Figures collected from different police stations in Surat show that neighbours were involved in 23 out of the 45 rape or rape attempt cases registered during 2007. Girls aged between three and 15 were victims in 18 of the cases.

Neighbours were followed by other close acquaintances such as friends, who were involved in six cases. In three cases, rickshaw drivers were found to be involved, while the crime was committed in one case each by a tenant and a landlord.

Lover and to-be husband were found involved in two rape cases, while the father of a victim was the guilty in one case. The accused in four of the cases have not been identified so far, the police records show.

A police spokesman said that such cases are taking place not only in Surat, but are a common occurrence all over the country. He further said in many cases victim's neighbours or other acquaintances were involved as victims are in regular contact with them.

The weapons myth

Hop over to my Squidoo women's self defense lense and have a look at the latest article.
It's about things to think about if you consider utilising a weapon (such as kubotan, spray, keys, taser, knife or gun).
I'd love to get your feedback on this topic!

More targeting

Canada -- Vancouver.24hrs.ca reports that Asian women are being targeted in the latest string of violent purse snatchings, according to police.

A Police spokesperson says that five women have been assaulted from behind and robbed in southeast Vancouver between December 4 and December 9.

"The suspect comes up from behind and brutalizes the victim," the spokesperson said. Some women were hit in the back of the head with something like a police baton.

In the past, Asian women were targeted by thieves because of a perception immigrants are less likely to report crimes.

Real estate agents

In Georgia, DeKalb County Police are warning local real estate agents to be careful, especially if they are women, 11alive.com reports.

The alert follows a sexual attack on a lone agent. The 36-year-old woman told detectives she was attacked while taking sales flyers to a home in Tucker on Tuesday, November 27.

She said not long after she entered a carport door, a man jumped her from behind, pinned her against a counter and began fondling her. However the woman fought back and managed to escape to her car, drive away and call police.

Targeting

More cases about the hazards of not being aware of your surroundings.

northjersey.com reports:
A 25-year-old suspect in a series of rapes and attempted rapes that occurred in the city's East side has been arrested, Paterson police (New Jersey) said. The man targeted young, petite Latinas. Since November 2006, he attacked at least five victims between the ages of 16 and 34.

According to police he looked for women who were distracted with cell phones and iPods before sneaking up on them from behind. They say he grabbed his victims with a choke hold, dragging them to a yard or an alleyway and then whispered in their ear before assaulting them.

And here's another report from East Lancing, Michigan:
A young woman called police saying she was approached from behind and fondled on a street by the Eli Broad School for Business building just after 11 p.m. Tuesday. She fought back and got loose in order to run away.

Another student told police a man with a tried to pull her jogging pants off while she was walking the river trail late Sunday. She also fought back and ran away.

"Both of these individuals were alone at the time," a MSU police spokesperson said. Both women escaped without injuries, but don't know the attackers. Police warn the women attacked were distracted--one was just finished making a call, the other using an iPod.

I wonder...

Inrich.com reports about a 31-year-old former Sheriff's deputy and US Marine.

While out on bond, he broke into his wife's house October 30, 2006 and assaulted her at gunpoint while their infant daughter was there.

Authorities say the man, armed and wearing a mask, attempted to subdue his wife with duct tape. She fought back and broke free, at which point the gun fired and the man was struck in the right bicep.

Maybe, just maybe, this should indicate that being a man - and even having more than average training and preparation - proves no guarantee that a woman can not outsmart or outfight you...
If you need another 3500 examples (now soon 4000), you can read more about it here.

Still not convinced?

Still not convinced about the dangers of walking oblivious to your surroundings?

Story:
Tokyo police have in custody a suspected rapist who stalked women walking alone at night while using their cellphones or listening to music players, sources said.

The 28-year-old man, a South Korean student living in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, has admitted to police that he attacked several other women.

According to police, the man said he targeted women carrying plastic bags from convenience stores, thinking that they likely lived alone.

He also singled out women wearing headphones or talking or texting on their cellphones because they "tend not to notice that they are being followed," according to police.

Source

A bargain

Negotiating with a robber? Sure, why not - as long as you're able to assess the dangers involved, it is absolutely possible at times.
It is of course far better to let a robber have your money without any resistance what so ever. After all, you still have the most important stuff - your life; plus your keys, vital papers, drivers licence, and bank cards.

Story:
Brooklyn, New York -- Two women were attacked at gunpoint in separate subway station incidents just days - and blocks - apart, police said.

One victim managed to bargain her assailant down, and the other held onto her belongings, but suffered a terrible beating.

On May 27, a thug with a silver semi-automatic gun robbed a woman leaving a G-train station at 11 p.m. She stepped off a Queens-bound train and was headed up the stairs, out of the station, when she was attacked.

The man in front of her suddenly wheeled around and pointed the shiny 9mm gun in her face. "Give me your purse," the man said. But the woman stalled, asking, "Can I just give you my wallet?"

When he agreed, she actually pulled out cash from her billfold and handed over the greenbacks - a total of $165.

"Now walk down the stairs," the robber instructed. She complied, turning and heading back down into the station.

Source

There were red flags

Oregon -- On May 24, 2004, just before allegedly kidnapping, raping and killing a 19-year-old college student, the 40-year-old suspected killer stalked and then approached two other women near Oregon State University. He then tried to lure them into his van, prosecutors say. He intended to rape and kill them, too, a Benton County District Attorney said.

The man tried to coax the women, both OSU students at the time, close to the van. But the women, who were alone, sensed trouble.

"There were red flags," the District Attorney said. "He tried to engage them with conversation and conduct that clearly establishes that he is trying to lure them into the van, but he just can't get within striking distance."

The victim was last seen about 10 a.m. May 24, 2004, cleaning lampposts in the parking lot of apartments managed by her brother-in-law near the Corvallis campus. Police and thousands of friends and strangers searched unsuccessfully for her for two weeks. Her body has not been found.

Source

He was stunned

California -- A would-be robber got a shock when he was zapped with a stun gun while trying to rob a San Diego doughnut shop.

The robbery attempt occurred just before 11 p.m. Friday. A man jumped over the counter and struck an employee, then tried to take cash from the register. But the woman fought back, and another woman shocked the man with a stun gun, police said.

The man is in his 20s and about 5 feet 7 inches tall with a medium build. No weapon was seen, and the man ran off without the money.

Source

Homeless

Unusual? Just because attacks on prostitutes and homeless people don't get reported to authorities, doesn't make them unusual.

Story:
California -- A homeless woman fought off a would-be rapist in Mountain View this week, an attack police described as unusual.

The attack happened about 3:30 a.m. Monday. The woman, sleeping in bushes, began to scream for help when a man tried to pull off her sleeping bag.

The assailant began strangling the woman and sexually assaulted her before fleeing. Her screams alerted someone in the neighborhood, who in turn called police.

Some formerly homeless local residents say sexual assaults on homeless women are pervasive but simply never reported to the police.

"For women out there, there's always people coming on to them, all the time," said an outreach worker.

A former homeless woman in Palo Alto, said women living on the streets frequently have to fight off unwanted advances. Men approached her regularly, she said.

Reportedly, the most dangerous time is the first week of each month, when some predators spend welfare and Social Security checks on drugs and alcohol.

Source

(No rest) restaurant restroom

California -- A 26-year-old man entered a restaurant south of St. Helena, Napa Valley by the side door. This was on March 26. He then went straight to the women's bathroom and entered the back stall and removed his clothes.

A woman came into the bathroom and saw the suspect standing there naked. The attacker grabbed her and tried to pull her inside the back stall. The woman spun around and was able to break loose from his grip.

Her sweater got torn in the process. The woman ran from the bathroom.

Just as that was happening, a woman in another stall came out and the assailant grabbed her and tried to pull her into the back stall.

She was fighting him off when some men, who had heard the noise, came in and wrestled the man to the ground.

The woman who was in the stall heard the commotion between the man and the first woman, but thought it was just some girls playing around.

Both women had visible injuries to their arms, according to the report.

Source