RAPE: How to Protect Yourself & Children (Part 2)

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Ololade Hector – Fowobaje

Previously, we shared measures you should adopt to prevent falling prey to rape (read here). Find 5 more useful tips:

1. Work on being assertive

If somebody is giving you unwanted attention, tell them to back off. There is no need to be polite when somebody is making unwanted sexual advances.

2. Be careful generally!

Practice being careful when going into your house or car because someone could easily push you in and lock the door behind you. Be aware of your surroundings; carry your keys ready in your hand and look around you before opening the door.

Don’t advertise your information verbally or on the Internet. Also, be very wary of meeting up with people that you meet on the Internet; even if they ask to meet in a public place.

Bring a dog if you have one when going for a walk alone. If you have a dog with you, it’s like having another person with you. Large dogs are intimidating to predators, even if your pet isn’t exactly brave. If you don’t have a large dog, bring the small one anyway. Chances are when your little pup sees you in trouble, he’ll be more than happy to protest. Predators won’t usually attack a person with a dog, large or small, because dogs usually make such a racket you’re bound to draw attention, which is undesirable for predators. Who knows – your poodle may just surprise your attacker when he grabs you.

3. Fight back!

You must do everything in your power to escape, even if it means hurting yourself. Sometimes, the rapist will kill his victims to prevent him from being caught or identified. If the rapist comes in your home, throw heavy items through windows and at the rapist. Make as much noise as you can.

Do not get in the car with them if you can help it because once you are mobile, this increases the likelihood that you will be taken to a remote location where the rapist can take their time. It is preferable to be injured and escape than to be taken to the middle of nowhere and battered. Do not be passive unless you feel you have to because a weapon is on you. Never give up without fighting a battle.

4. Take a self-defence class and Learn to S-I-N-G.

This means Solar Plexus-Instep-Nose-Groin; the four attack points you should focus on if grabbed from behind. Elbow them in the solar plexus (the guts), stomp on the foot as hard as you can, and when they let go, turn around and jam the palm of your hand into their nose in an upward motion, then finish with a knee to the groin. This may disable your assailant long enough for you to get away. Don’t worry about hurting them, because they intend to do something much worse to you.

5. Be careful around strangers not letting down your guards

Hitching a ride with a total stranger is not safe at all. Being the only female in a group of males in a secluded place should also be avoided to avoid gang-rape. Avoid being lured anywhere away from prying eyes.

Teenage girls should particularly avoid this. In a boarding school recently, four boys snatched a girl’s bag after prep and ran towards the boy’s hostel. Instead of the girl to report to the house master or matron, she chased after them and got raped right by the boy’s hostel. Yes, the boys were expelled, but the deed had been done.