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I live in a decent city and I still feel unsafe in certain situations, including walking alone at night. I'm not the paranoid type but I'm very aware of potential threats.
Same here. ^
I think women are perceived as an easy target because we're usually smaller, and frankly, typically not as physically strong as a man. So if an attacker sees a 5'9 guy walking down the street, and then later sees me at 5'3ish - he's probably going to choose me as his target.
I live in a relatively safe neighborhood that is somewhat well lit but I still get the heebie jeebies when I walk through some of the more shadowed/unlit areas. And I conceal carry.
Had nothing to do with my point. I was contrasting those women with myself. I'm male...
Why???
Prostitutes et al are on a whole other level of risk-taking that has NOTHING to do with the OP, and being a man isn't the perspective the OP asked about.
Woman under 30 here.
Have lived in two 2-million cities so far.
Ridden public transportation all my life - buses, subway, trains.
Gone for walks at every hour of the night, including walks at 3AM in a pouring summer rain (a taxi stopped once and the driver asked if I needed a ride, I told him no, I was fine, and he drove away).
Never once felt unsafe or threatened.
Sure, I would cross the street if I saw a group of drunk guys on my way, but other than that, I have always felt safe.
I think people may be less likely to mug a 6'2" guy because they may be intimidated by his size.. But I think if you walk around in a downtown area with a lot of people late at night, you'll be safe, even if you are a woman...
Sounds like famous last words to me. I was grabbed in a parking structure at a major Las Vegas, hotel/ casino.
There were people milling around and cars looking to park. He just walked up and sucker punched me, knocking me to the ground. After kicking and punching me into submission, he proceeded to drag me ( by the hair) to a secluded spot where he raped and beat me some more. I was told to keep quiet or he'd do worse.
He'd ( I'd find out later) fractured my eye socket, fractured 3 of my ribs, broke two of my fingers, gave me two black eyes, bit me so hard on the shoulder that I have a permanent bite scar. I got eight stitches in my mouth, a concussion, gobs of my hair yanked out and a partially collapsed wind pipe. ( he tried to strangle me when he was finished.) From the time I first saw him until he punched me was maybe 5 seconds and the whole assault took maybe 15 minutes. ( although it seemed like lifetime).
I did everything I was supposed to. Looked around before getting out of my car, tried to park close to an entrance, parked close to a well lit area. Got out, key in hand..... but it happened so quickly I never had a chance. Unless you get out of the car with your CC or pepper spray in hand... your chances of getting to use them in close quarters are pretty slim. He looked like " the guy next door" and I was disarmed by his smile.
That's when he caught me with a right hook to the jaw.
I am not afraid to be out by myself at night.... I am just way more careful or take my dog it at all possible.
Don't give yourself a false sense of security because you have a weapon or because there are people around. It can happen anywhere, any time and it can happen in a heartbeat. Not looking for sympathy here... just trying to give a little heads up from my experience.
It basically lists a bunch of things women have to worry about every day, like walking alone at night, being constantly harassed by men and even carrying keys in their hand as weapons. I read the comments section and many women revealed how much they relate and how they are so frightened to walk alone at night or be on public transportation by themselves.
I'm not trying to accuse them of lying, but it just puzzles me that I can't relate to this at all. I live in Chicago, one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S., and I never feel afraid to walk alone at night by myself... I've ridden the train late at night on my own and never felt threatened. Sure, I've been hit on by men when I'm by myself, but I've never felt like they were going to attack and rape me. There are bad people out there, but I feel like most people are basically good and not out to hurt others.
Do any other women feel the way I do or do I see the world through rose-colored glasses? Do you think many women are overly paranoid about these sorts of things? Please share your thoughts..
Nah, I don't, but there have been times when I wondered if I SHOULD be afraid. Like walking alone in a neighborhood full of abandoned warehouses once on a NYC street I didn't know existed. I was thinking, wow here I am isolated on a street at midday in Manhattan! This is kind of cool! Then it occurred to me for a moment that the serial killer could open a door as I passed and just yank me in. I was more amused than scared at the thought, though.
Sounds like famous last words to me. I was grabbed in a parking structure at a major Las Vegas, hotel/ casino.
There were people milling around and cars looking to park. He just walked up and sucker punched me, knocking me to the ground. After kicking and punching me into submission, he proceeded to drag me ( by the hair) to a secluded spot where he raped and beat me some more. I was told to keep quiet or he'd do worse.
He'd ( I'd find out later) fractured my eye socket, fractured 3 of my ribs, broke two of my fingers, gave me two black eyes, bit me so hard on the shoulder that I have a permanent bite scar. I got eight stitches in my mouth, a concussion, gobs of my hair yanked out and a partially collapsed wind pipe. ( he tried to strangle me when he was finished.) From the time I first saw him until he punched me was maybe 5 seconds and the whole assault took maybe 15 minutes. ( although it seemed like lifetime).
I did everything I was supposed to. Looked around before getting out of my car, tried to park close to an entrance, parked close to a well lit area. Got out, key in hand..... but it happened so quickly I never had a chance. Unless you get out of the car with your CC or pepper spray in hand... your chances of getting to use them in close quarters are pretty slim. He looked like " the guy next door" and I was disarmed by his smile.
That's when he caught me with a right hook to the jaw.
I am not afraid to be out by myself at night.... I am just way more careful or take my dog it at all possible.
Don't give yourself a false sense of security because you have a weapon or because there are people around. It can happen anywhere, any time and it can happen in a heartbeat. Not looking for sympathy here... just trying to give a little heads up from my experience.
Sobering story, thanks. Glad you're still here to tell the tale.
I think women are perceived as an easy target because we're usually smaller, and frankly, typically not as physically strong as a man. So if an attacker sees a 5'9 guy walking down the street, and then later sees me at 5'3ish - he's probably going to choose me as his target.
I live in a relatively safe neighborhood that is somewhat well lit but I still get the heebie jeebies when I walk through some of the more shadowed/unlit areas. And I conceal carry.
That's another factor. I am a 6'1" tall woman. I guess I've always felt that gives me a layer of safety that a normal female wouldn't have.
Sounds like famous last words to me. I was grabbed in a parking structure at a major Las Vegas, hotel/ casino.
There were people milling around and cars looking to park. He just walked up and sucker punched me, knocking me to the ground. After kicking and punching me into submission, he proceeded to drag me ( by the hair) to a secluded spot where he raped and beat me some more. I was told to keep quiet or he'd do worse.
He'd ( I'd find out later) fractured my eye socket, fractured 3 of my ribs, broke two of my fingers, gave me two black eyes, bit me so hard on the shoulder that I have a permanent bite scar. I got eight stitches in my mouth, a concussion, gobs of my hair yanked out and a partially collapsed wind pipe. ( he tried to strangle me when he was finished.) From the time I first saw him until he punched me was maybe 5 seconds and the whole assault took maybe 15 minutes. ( although it seemed like lifetime).
I did everything I was supposed to. Looked around before getting out of my car, tried to park close to an entrance, parked close to a well lit area. Got out, key in hand..... but it happened so quickly I never had a chance. Unless you get out of the car with your CC or pepper spray in hand... your chances of getting to use them in close quarters are pretty slim. He looked like " the guy next door" and I was disarmed by his smile.
That's when he caught me with a right hook to the jaw.
I am not afraid to be out by myself at night.... I am just way more careful or take my dog it at all possible.
Don't give yourself a false sense of security because you have a weapon or because there are people around. It can happen anywhere, any time and it can happen in a heartbeat. Not looking for sympathy here... just trying to give a little heads up from my experience.
I am sorry this happend to you. No matter how careful any one is there are always animals out there that can sneak up on anyone female or male and cause harm. Was this person every caught?
I live in a subdivision in a suburban community. I would walk in the evening in my subdivision, but not late at night. Nor would I take the hiking trail that runs behind houses in our subdivision any time ever, by myself. The trail can't be seen totally from the street, and people aren't home during the day.
There is a park nearby where I would feel safe about walking by myself though. It is closed at night, so I wouldn't be walking there late.
I really think that most women should take self-defense lessons and carry some type of weapon. It doesn't have to be a gun. You can get by with a switch blade or electric taser if legal.
I actually believe that surburbs are more dangerous than metro areas. Because in the burbs there are more opportunities for an attacker to committ a crime without any witnesses around.
I normally find walking behind or around women is that they do not have enough awareness of the environment. I could've easily sneak silently behind and get them in a choke hold.
In a street fight a choke hold could mean life and death unless you are strong and powerful you can overpower your attacker.
By being aware of who is around you or watching you is a good start and avoid being grabbed from behind because it takes just a few seconds for a guy who weighs the same as you to get you in a choke hold or put a knife or gun behind you.
If you could anticipate the guy and he tries to pull it off, the minute they lose the element of the surprise they are less likely to committ the crime knowing that you have identified him unless you are in some desolate place.
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