She was walking back home from school. Before she knew what was happening, he grabbed her and threw her down. She tried everything she could to fight him off. She pulled out a can of pepper spray, but he knocked it away. She tried to scream, but only air escaped her lungs. She pushed, kicked, punched, and scratched. And that was when she felt a knife pierce through her skin. She went numb.
Today, young people are victims of rape. Some are violated by total strangers; others are molested by neighbours, family members and trusted family friends. There are reported cases of young people being abused by their own father. Sexual assault is common today but it is not new. In a world where sexual abuse is becoming disturbingly common, you can take precautions to protect yourself.
Avoid Dangerous routes: Use an alternative route once you realise that the common route to your home, school, market or wherever your destination may be is not safe. Ensure that at night, you pass through a well-lit path. Do not use unsafe short courts. You should ply a longer route if you feel it’s safer. Rapists often perpetrate their evil under the cover of darkness and want to make sure no one is watching. It is wise to make that difficult for the violator by plying well-lit and busy routes.
Walk in two’s and be alert: Granted, some areas are perpetually insecure and you probably live those areas. Make sure you are not alone and be alert. Pay close attention to happenings ahead of you, behind you, and on both sides. Have a pepper spray within your reach.
Set Clear Boundaries: If you are in a relationship, set clear boundaries. Do not assume that your boyfriend is not capable of sexual assault. Some girls are victims of date rape – a situation in which a girl is forced to have sex or drugged into compliance. Discuss with the other person about acceptable and unacceptable conducts. If the person you are dating does not stick to those boundaries, it becomes a clear signal that the person does not respect your body, values or principles. You should stay away from that individual.
Have an exit plan: You should have a code language which you use to discuss with a friend or family to come get you out of a place when it’s becoming uncomfortable. By implication, you must have discussed the is code with your family and must always let them know where you are going and whom you are visiting.
Be careful the messages you send: Be careful not to send a wrong message. You may send mixed messages by flirting or dressing inappropriately. Such actions may send the message that you’re interested in getting physical—or at least that you wouldn’t object to it. How you dress determines what you attract. These days, sexual predators/abusers are rampant online. Be careful not to give out messages about your whereabout to just anyone online. Don’t share your location with strangers. If you receive sexually explicit messages, ignore them. The wall of silence is the biggest defence against an online predators.
Was this article helpful? Share with us other ways one can protect oneself from sexual predators.
