Assault is often
defined when a person intentionally puts another in fear of receiving serious physical
harm or offensive contact. Woman are often the victims of assault, and these
accidents are usually caused by men. Although, assault cannot be fully
prevented women can take precautionary actions to help reduce the risk of being
attacked. Here are some steps to take to reduce the risk of assault:
Be aware
of the surroundings.
Avoid
isolated areas.
Do not
walk alone in the dark.
Have a
cell phone nearby in case you need to call for help.
Avoid
putting headphones in both ears. Keep an ear bud out to be able to hear the
surroundings.
Avoid
carrying heavy loads. This makes it an easy target to attack if the victim’s
hands are full.
Consume
alcohol in moderation, and do not leave drinks unattended.
If one
is going on a date be sure to inform friends or family of where you will be and
with who.
Keep the
house door and car locked at all times.
Do not
be afraid to say no.
If in an
unfamiliar location keep a cellphone handy.
The form of assault that usually occurs in woman in
sexual assault. According to the United States Department of Justice, sexual
assault can be defined as any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs by
force or without consent of the recipient of the unwanted sexual activity. On
average about 2/3 of rapes are committed by someone known to the victim, and
73% of sexual assaults were committed by a non-stranger. Also, more than 50% of
all sexual assaults and rape incidents happened within one mile of the victim’s
home, and 43% occur between the hours of 6:00pm and midnight. (Rape, Abuse
& Incest National Network) This being said every woman needs to take
precautions in reducing the risk of assault.
References:
Sexual Assault. The United States Department of Justice.
Retrieved from: http://www.justice.gov/ovw/areas-focus
Helping
Reduce the Risk of Sexual Assault. Safe Help Line. Retrieved from: https://www.safehelpline.org/ways-to-reduce-your-risk-of-rape-in-the-military
Statistics. Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.
Retrieved from: https://www.rainn.org/statistics
Thank you for sharing this information, Brittany. Because I am a woman, over time I have gained information on ways to reduce the risk of assault, mainly from family members and friends. The main thing that stood out to me in your blog was to not put headphones in both ears in order to be more aware of surroundings. I have never heard of this before but it makes perfect sense not to do that and I am glad I read your blog. Without it, who knows when or if it would've been brought to my attention.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up my parents were very protective and at times I was upset that I couldn't stay out late or go on dates with boys then my parents don't know. As I grow up and had a child I realize my parents were protecting me. The best method is always prevention, although it's not 100% preventable, but it certainly is the best tool. Thank you for your post.
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