Crime
« Previous EntriesPhiladelphia Police Address Sharp Rise in Domestic Violence
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009Domestic violence murder is up in Philadelphia, just as it is in the rest of the nation. The rise is counter to the overall drop in Philly homicides. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Police Department is formulating a new directive and it will include steps such as requiring each police district to keep a [...]
Black Friday and Car Safety
Friday, November 27th, 2009I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
If you are like many people I know, you are eagerly scanning the newspaper for great Black Friday deals.
Know that if you are headed out to the mall, that predators are out scanning you to see if you and your purse are easy pickings. Heavy crowds and traffic work [...]
Roman Polanski Gets Bail
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009Roman Polanski’s saga takes a surprising turn when Swiss authorities granted his request for bail. He had been arrested on an outstanding warrant for fleeing the US subsequent to his sentencing for the rape of a 13 year-old in 1977.
The granting of the request came as a surprise to Swiss legal experts and US authorities. [...]
Women’s Self Defense: Don’t Let Technology Be Used Against You
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009The great technology devices you carry can work against you if your pocketbook or car is stolen.
I haven’t been able to confirm whether the following story is true or apocryphal, but it does contain some valuable lessons.
A woman’s pocketbook was stolen. It contained her GPS, cell phone, wallet, credit cards…
When she was finally able to [...]
Overcoming Social Conditioning can mean the difference between life and death
Monday, November 23rd, 2009Overcoming social conditioning is one of the hurdles a woman or girl must overcome if she chooses to fight back. And that can mean the difference between life and death. There are powerful cultural norms that reward women and girls to “be nice,” not to “make a fuss,” to be passive. If you want to [...]
Everyday objects make nifty weapons for self defense
Thursday, October 29th, 2009Weapons defense for women does not necessarily mean you have to carry pepper spray or pack a pistol. Almost anything can be used as a tool against a potential attacker. A pen, a table knife, anything sharp would be effective against your assailant. An effective impact weapon can be created by placing something small and dense [...]
Violence against Women – Fighting as a Way to End the Cycle of Abuse
Sunday, October 25th, 2009Fighting back can actually stop the cycle of abuse that often propagates itself. Maybe if more girls and women learned to defend themselves physically by harming their attackers instead of walking away or crying then maybe they could begin to turn the tide of abuse from themselves and women in general. Maybe if boys and [...]
Self defense for Women – A fighting mindset can save your butt
Saturday, October 24th, 2009Sometimes, violence comes despite the best possible avoidance measures, and when it does, there is often no opportunity to summon help. In those cases, a woman is forced to face her attacker alone, using only her own resources and knowledge to survive. Fortunately, women who are properly trained and confident in their ability to protect [...]
How Not to be a Victim? Look out for Predators
Saturday, October 17th, 2009How do you prevent yourself from being a victim?
The first rule in self-defense is to not put yourself into a situation that would put you in danger. And the easiest way to do that is to stay aware of people in your surroundings.
Not surprisingly, criminals exhibit predatory behavior in preparing to attack. They will try to [...]
Rape Attitudes and the US Senate: We Have a Long Way to Go, Baby
Thursday, October 15th, 2009Gang rape is OK when Halliburton employees commit it. That’s the takeaway message from the 30 Republican senators who voted against an amendment to prohibit the Pentagon from contracting with firms that force women employees to agree not to sue companies if they are raped as a result of their employment.
Their rationale? The Government shouldn’t [...]