Men ask why women are so pissed off. Even guys with wives and daughters. Jackson Katz, a prominent social researcher, illustrates why. He's done it with hundreds of audiences:
"I draw a line down the middle of a chalkboard, sketching a male symbol on one side and a female symbol on the other.
Then I ask just the men: What steps do you guys take, on a daily basis, to prevent yourselves from being sexually assaulted? At first there is a kind of awkward silence as the men try to figure out if they've been asked a trick question. The silence gives way to a smattering of nervous laughter. Occasionally, a young a guy will raise his hand and say, 'I stay out of prison.' This is typically followed by another moment of laughter, before someone finally raises his hand and soberly states, 'Nothing. I don't think about it.'
Then I ask the women the same question. What steps do you take on a daily basis to prevent yourselves from being sexually assaulted? Women throughout the audience immediately start raising their hands. As the men sit in stunned silence, the women recount safety precautions they take as part of their daily routine.
Hold my keys as a potential weapon. Look in the back seat of the car before getting in. Carry a cell phone. Don't go jogging at night. Lock all the windows when I sleep, even on hot summer nights. Be careful not to drink too much. Don't put my drink down and come back to it; make sure I see it being poured. Own a big dog. Carry Mace or pepper spray. Have an unlisted phone number. Have a man's voice on my answering machine. Park in well-lit areas. Don't use parking garages. Don't get on elevators with only one man, or with a group of men. Vary my route home from work. Watch what I wear. Don't use highway rest areas. Use a home alarm system. Don't wear headphones when jogging. Avoid forests or wooded areas, even in the daytime. Don't take a first-floor apartment. Go out in groups. Own a firearm. Meet men on first dates in public places. Make sure to have a car or cab fare. Don't make eye contact with men on the street. Make assertive eye contact with men on the street.”
― Jackson Katz, The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help
"Just" to keep from being raped, or worse. Starting to think all 12-year old females should be issued guns, gun training, and carry permits. (Same for 65-year olds.)
The choice to carry would of course be theirs, but the idea that any of them Might be carrying could be a great deterrent. And yes, we need to think of something for all kids under 12, male or female !
I wasnt thinking about it when I got my Great Dane but after I had her a while I noticed a sense of freedom and ease I did not have before.It looked like she was just bounding around when I went for walks in the woods but when I needed her she was right there ,twice.
I can think of so many more things women do to be safe. Such as staying on the phone with a friend while walking from a building to your car, checking in with somebody when leaving home and when reaching a destination, not answering the door if you don't recognize the person on the other side. Checking and double checking identification on workers and service people before letting them into your home, wondering if that guy in the police uniform is really a cop, not pulling over for a cop until you can do so in a very populated area. The list goes on.