I have noticed that almost half of the people that like the Prepared Christian facebook page, and roughly half of the people that sign up to receive email updates are women. This article is directed at all of my female readers as well as any man that has a woman in their life.
In many homes the job of seeking out the cause of things that go bump in the night is relegated to a man. But what happens if the husband isn’t home or is incapacitated? Then consider single moms or single women that live alone.
According to the Rape Trauma Services website there are “1.3 women (ages 18 and over) in the United States are forcibly raped each minute. That translates to 78 per hour, 1,871 per day, or 683,000 per year.” I believe these statistics were taking from 1992, but I have a hard time believing they would be any lower today.
Whether it is seeking the source of something that went bump in the night, or fending off an attacker, security is a woman’s job too. The most important self-defense tool you can have is your mind, so I want to discuss mindset, I will also list some tools available to keep you safe.
Mind Set
The statistics turn my stomach, but they are eye opening. It’s something men might think about as a danger for the women in their lives, but not as an ever present danger to themselves. But the truth is, it is an ever present danger to women. If you’re reading this there is a good chance you are a prepper, someone who is awake to potential dangers and someone who takes measures to mitigate them. Rape and other violent crime is another very real danger, in fact it is more of a danger than most of the other things we prepare for.
The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence
It’s Not Just a Man’s Job
As I mentioned above security is many times treated as a man’s job. I have received email’s stating it and I have seen similar comments on various forums. I don’t have a problem with security being primarily the man’s job, but it is also the woman’s. When something goes bump in the night, I am the one to check on it, but Trudee is at the ready, to assist me or call 911 if needed. If I was injured and was physically unable to check on it, or if while checking on it was rendered incapacitated, she would have a means to protect herself and call for help.
For a woman to be able to defend herself, she must have a weapon she is comfortable using. One option that I like is a youth model 20 gauge shotgun. Youth models are shorter and weigh less, and are easier to maneuver inside. If a handgun with defensive loads are what is used, I suggest going to a range that rents guns and try a few out. I know one of our local ranges has “Ladies Night” that are a basic introduction to handguns class made up of only woman. First Shots is an organization that Trudee and I actually went through to take an introductory hand gun course through.
If you can only afford to have one firearm at home, please make it one that the smallest framed adult can use. And each person should know how to operate it and be comfortable using it.
If you aren’t able to carry a firearm but want to have something for protection, I recommend pepper spray. I wrote an article called Self-Defense: Pepper Spray where I explain some of the downsides of certain types of pepper spray. I personally carry Cold Steel Inferno .38 oz. Keyring Hardcase Unit Pepper Spray
Final Thoughts
When it comes to security, it might primarily be “the man’s job” but some of that responsibility also falls on the women’s shoulders. Ladies you are responsible for your own safety and for the safety of your family, even if that means in an assisting role.
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