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Self-Defense Hacks Every Woman Should Know

Stay safe out there, ladies.

By Paisley HansenPublished 5 years ago 3 min read
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There are many experiences women face daily that men will never understand: walking through the parking lot and worrying about the stranger following you, feeling uneasy as you get out of the car and have to walk a block alone, noticing someone eyeing you up in the grocery store and waiting for them to leave first so they don't know what car you drive.

As much as we wish it weren't so, violence against women is a real problem in our society, and even innocent, everyday activities can pose a threat. Knowing these self-defense hacks and strategies will help you protect yourself in a dangerous situation. Hopefully, you'll never have to use them, but it never hurts to be prepared.

Hit Where It Hurts

When you're faced with a physical threat, you have to react quickly and swiftly. There isn't a lot of time to claw, scratch, and slap like you see in the movies. Instead, you want to go for the areas on an attacker's body that will disable them the most. You want to focus on these areas:

  • Eyes
  • Nose
  • Throat
  • Groin

If you ever have your arms pinned down, don't try to wrestle yourself free. This wastes precious time and will be in-effective against someone who is probably bigger and stronger than you. Instead, use your head and knees to be as forceful as you can.

Go With Your Gut

If something feels unsafe, it probably is. You've probably heard about the power of women's intuition, and research proves that it's usually right. The emotional differences and nonverbal communications sills that women have over men often enables them to detect signs of danger more quickly.

Be aware of your surroundings at all times, and if you feel uncomfortable, find a way to get to safety as quickly as possible. If you think someone is following you in the store, they probably are. In extreme cases, it's okay to inform a store manager or clerk at the front. They know better than to make a big scene, and you can have them assist you and walk you to your car to ensure that you get home safely.

Use Your Phone Wisely

Have a sketchy Uber driver or walking somewhere alone? Use an app on your smartphone that can track your location and immediately notify family and friends when you're in danger. These apps go a step beyond the iPhone's Find My Friends and can help save your life in an emergency.

Life 360 Family Locator

This app uses real-time location software to track you and your loved one's locations; you can set up alerts to notify others when you make it to home or work, and if they miss a notification on time, then they'll know something is up.

Uber's Safety Button

The Uber app has a panic button located in its safety settings that allow you to immediately and discreetly notify 911. If you feel uncomfortable or threatened during a ride, navigate on the app to the safety center icon, tap "911 assistance" and hit confirm.

Emergency SOS on iPhone

Go to your settings and enable Emergency SOS. This feature will allow you to dial emergency services by rapidly pressing the power button five times. An emergency screen will appear, and all you have to do is swipe to dial 911. After the call, your iPhone will also send a text message with your GPS location to people you've specified as emergency contacts.

Protect Your House With Smart Security Systems

Install some modern home security systems that include cameras and locks activated by your phone. This will allow you to check your property before you ever walk inside, and you can lock and unlock your doors with the tap of a button.

You can also enable smart locks and security systems to notify you when a door is opened or someone is detected on the premises.

Prevention is the Best Form of Self-Defense

The best way you can defend yourself is to practice safety prevention. Stay in well-lit, crowded areas, avoid walking or traveling long-distances alone and always trust your intuition. You may not always be able to avoid a threat, but being conscious of what's going on around you can help you respond quickly and stay safe without confrontation.

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About the Creator

Paisley Hansen

Paisley Hansen is a freelance writer and expert in health, fitness, beauty, and fashion. When she isn’t writing she can usually be found reading a good book or hitting the gym.

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