The safety of women has been a growing concern, with studies indicating that women fear crime, particularly sexual assault, more than men. The study that was conducted aimed to explore the relationship between women’s personal and vicarious victimization experiences and their self-protection strategies. The findings have implications for empowering women in making informed decisions about self-protection and informing policies to address women’s safety concerns.
Key Findings:
1. Wide Variety of Self-Protection Strategies: The survey of 1,800 US women revealed that women employ a diverse range of self-protection strategies. These strategies include carrying weapons (e.g., guns, knives), personal safety devices (e.g., pepper spray, noise makers), changing behaviors (e.g., avoiding going out at night), and implementing home security measures (e.g., alarm systems, having a dog).
2. Fear of Victimization and Avoidance: Approximately 47% of the women reported avoiding things they needed to do, and 71% avoided activities they wanted to do due to fear of victimization. This suggests that fear of crime has a significant impact on women’s daily lives and behavior.
3. Association between Victimization Experiences and Self-Protection Strategies: Women who had experienced both personal and vicarious victimization were more likely to possess guns, carry weapons, carry devices, and use home protection strategies compared to those with no victimization experiences. The cumulative impact of multiple types of exposure to violence seemed to influence the adoption of self-protection measures.
4. Neighborhood Safety Perception and Self-Protection Strategies: Interestingly, women’s self-protection strategies did not vary based on their assessment of the safety of their neighborhoods. This finding suggests that women’s choice of self-protection strategies is not solely based on objective measures of neighborhood safety but also influenced by other factors, such as personal experiences and perceived risks.
The results of this study provide valuable insights into the self-protection strategies adopted by US women and the association with personal and vicarious victimization experiences. The findings can help guide women in making informed decisions about their self-protection choices. Moreover, this research can inform policies and interventions aimed at addressing women’s safety concerns and developing strategies that are acceptable and effective. Further research is needed to explore women’s patterns of strategy selection in different cultural contexts to identify and promote interventions that are culturally sensitive and appropriate.
By understanding the factors influencing women’s self-protection strategies, we can work towards creating a safer environment for women and empowering them to protect themselves effectively. Women’s safety is a shared responsibility that requires collaboration between individuals, communities, and policymakers. Together, we can strive for a society where women can live free from fear and feel secure in their daily lives.
The Gun Powder Girls aims to serve as a one-stop resource hub for women, recognizing the unique challenges we face, to learn to address these concerns and develop strategic, useful skills when it comes to personal protection and safety protocols for their family. Additionally, we want to get to a place where our actions amplify our voices to facilitate open dialogues that can enact social justice changes in our communities far and wide. The Gun Powder Girls strives to provide valuable support, guidance, and resources that empower women to overcome obstacles, celebrate their individual and group accomplishments and inspire positive change in their lives and communities.
Written By Raquel Eldridge-Gradnigo
Published: July 10, 2023
Compiled Using Journal Article: US women’s choices of strategies to protect themselves from violence by Carol W Runyan, Carri Casteel, Kathryn E Moracco, and Tamera Coyne‐Beasley
To read the full article, please visit: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2598334/