Actually the man was released a few years ago.  As I mentioned before, it´s not just women, it´s stronger over weaker.  It most often is easy for a male to overtake a female, as most males have the strength to subdue most females. (of course there are some Amazons like Daydreamer who no man could subdue...but that is another matter)    Females have to rely on their wit, rather than brawn.  Rule number one is be aware of your surroundings and access your vulnerability. 

I think we get hung up on what is right, and forget about the "real" world.  It´s unfortunate, most get away with what they can, depending on what they want and the perception of what is possible.

 They believe some of the bodies had been there for years, shortly after he was released from prison.  Why in the world do we release these rapists?  It has been proven they can´t be reformed...Same thing with sexual predators.  All of these children who go missing and found dead are usually victims of men.  And when you do hear it´s a women...for some reason it makes even more comprehensable..

I have had so many incidents where I have feared for my safety.  Men falling me in cars to my front door, a man breaking into my house and me waking up with him sitting on my bed.  I now keep a baseball bat in my car and a knife under my mattress.  We should not have to live in fear!

OMG....teaschip! This is horrible....get yourself to a martial arts class ASAP! I would suggest something like Aikido, (which is what I´ve been involved in for years) Judo, Jujitsu are also good for women. They are defensive.  You do go over what is called katas over and over again, but the most important thing they teach is a way to think.  It is taught that the attack happens in the mind of the  attacker first, before it´s manifested in the physical. You are supposed to feel the attack before it happens. Keeping a knife or baseball bat handy without training is not much use. The attacker could end up using them against you.

The best strategy is to keep out of reach......learn to duck.....be aware of your surroundings.

Teas - that´s awful! A guy getting into your bedroom? What did you do? You´re lucky nothing happened...

Much as I like the idea of working out and learning new things at the same time, I don´t think anything can grant you safety. Sure, it´s better to increase your chances and here Aikido, Judo or Taekwondo are of great help, but still it´s a matter of luck. You either are in the wrong place at the wrong time or not.

A friend of mine, who had national successes in Judo, was attacked in a park as she was going back home from a training. Ok, so she did break one nose and a few ribs, but she´d stand no chance alone against 4 guys. Luckily, her coach saw the situation and helped her out. Otherwise it might have ended in a tragedy.

Alameda, thanks for having such high expectations of me but I don´t think I´d last long in a one-to-one confrontation, I´m more of a talker, my big gab has scared a few people away. Or maybe it was my being self-assured? The thing is, after being attacked once, I learnt that I stand no chance in physical fight so I decided to act as if I could protect myself. So far it´s been working, but you never know what awaits you round the corner

That is such an insulting way to think. Insulting for all the victims. What was "real" so many years ago is not necessarily "real" now, because something was done about it, and because there were people who fought for justice, even at the cost of their lives. There was a great article in the lastest Bitch magazine: "What if we did as much to prevent rape as we do to prevent H1N1?"  Yeah, if we did care about the lives of women, there would be much less rape out there, much less porn, and less of sexy scenes in mainstream movies where women are violated.

The CDC reported just over 43,000 cases of H1N1 between April and July of this year and estimates that it will affect a million people, or 0.3% of the total population of the United States. Compare this to the 2.5% of women and 0.9% of men who reported being raped or sexually assaulted in the past year (most victims don´t report). The most recent statistics about rape available from the CDC are from last year. Swine flu? Last week.

Yes, one never knows until an actual "event" happens.  I had a friend who was a black belt in Karate....who ended up being beaten up by her boyfriend.  In my friends case, she had already surrendered to the man....The problem with things like Karate is if you use them, you can be charged with the use of a deadly weapon.  I would have a hard time actually hitting anyone.......in a fight or flight situation....I opt for the latter.....

The object of an art like Aikido is to never have to use any of the actual physical technique, at least that is how I was taught.  As I said, the main lesson is to feel an attack before it happens, and if you don´t do that, at least stay out of the way and out of reach. We practiced against 6 opponents at once. That is, we practiced being attacked by 6 different attackers at once. 

Yes, a loud mouth helps a lot.  There is nothing quite so unnerving as a loud and piercing scream.....and I too am curious....what did Teaschip do?

Quoting Daydreamer

...........Alameda, thanks for having such high expectations of me but I don´t think I´d last long in a one-to-one confrontation, I´m more of a talker, my big gab has scared a few people away. Or maybe it was my being self-assured? The thing is, after being attacked once, I learnt that I stand no chance in physical fight so I decided to act as if I could protect myself. So far it´s been working, but you never know what awaits you round the corner

Well you do what you want, as for me, I opt for what works....NOW...and of course a lot more work to prevent rape needs to be done....that is what I´m trying to do.  Putting your head in the sand and pretending there are no sick perverts out there does not help. It should be unthinkable, but obviously, it is thinkable and being done....what is it they have found....somewhere in America a woman is being raped every two minutes"

The reality of the situation is there are way too many very very sick people out there.  They don´t have neon signs on them telling us they are sick. I´m tired of reading about poor girls who naively trusted and were violated. No it should not happen, but it does....over and over and over and over and over................just last week a 15 year old girl was gang raped at a homecoming dance at her highschool..........while others walked by and did NOTHING.....

I am opposed to the objectification of women as objects....things to be acted upon....but the reality is that attitude still exists and horrid actions still happen.............better safe than sorry.....once the line is crossed....one can´t get back.........and I certainly agree with you regarding care about women´s lives....but I think we should care for all lives........not just womens.  A man who is able to perpetuate violence against women is sick too and needs help.  He is like a carrier of a virus who spreads the disease..........if he were inoculated wouldn´t it be better?

I did not say that we shouldn´t be careful. I´m just saying that we should all be outraged at what is "real" NOW.

Agreed.....

I´m glad..

 Glad for you both!