Dainty Hooligan Blog Post: Defend Yourself! Self Defense For Women

These days, you see news reports of women getting robbed or physically assaulted in public areas and in private areas as well. For women in college, there are some rather scary numbers that you need to pay attention to. According to Sarah Lawerence College, the following statistics of such assaults are true for women in colleges and universities:

Sexual Assault and College Campuses - Statistics

The following statistics were compiled by the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault

• At least 1 in 4 college women will be the victim of a sexual assault during her academic career. Hirsch, Kathleen (1990)”Fraternities of Fear: Gang Rape, Male Bonding, and the Silencing of Women.” Ms., 1(2) 52-56.
• At least 80% of all sexual assaults are committed by an acquaintance of the victim. Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2001.
• 48.8% of college women who were victims of attacks that met the study’s definition of rape did not consider what happened to them rape. Bureau of Justice Stats. “Sexual Victimization of Collegiate Women” 2000, US DOJ.
• More than 70% of rape victims knew their attackers, compared to about half of all violent crime victims.Dennison, Callie. Criminal Victimization 1998. Bureau of Justice Stats, DOJ.
• There are 35.3 incidents of sexual assault per 1,000 female students on a campus as recorded over a 6.91 month period (the academic year of ‘96 – ’97) as reported in the 2000 DOJ Bureau of Justice Statistics report “The Sexual Victimization of College Women.”
• On average, at least 50% of college students’ sexual assaults are associated with alcohol use Abbey et al., 1996a, 1998; Copenhaver and Grauerholz, 1991; Harrington and Leitenberg, 1994; Presley et al., 199). Koss (1988),Within the study’s nationally represented sample of college students the results found that 74% of perpetrators and 55% of rape victims had been drinking alcohol prior to the assault.
• In a survey of high school students, 56% of girls and 76% of boys [some of whom may be incoming college freshmen] believed forced sex was acceptable under some circumstances. Acquaintance Rape: The Hidden Crime, 1991.

These numbers are staggering to say the least, but being prepared to defend yourself if you're in one of these terrible situations is essential. We recommend picking up some self defense training! Google some info on local self defense classes specifically for women or perhaps find out if a self defense class is offered at your school. Either way, education is key! Below you'll find a short clip offering some tips for women interested in self defense. Although these tips are great, we still think taking some real training would be most beneficial. So grab some of your girlfriends, your sister, your mom, or go solo and sign up for some classes!