Safety Tips for Traveling Women

Consider wearing a wedding ring, if you don't already, but leave your expensive or expensive-looking jewelry at home. Don't be a target. Wear a money belt or carry your valuables in a pouch or inner pocket. Don't carry a wallet or any valuables in your purse.

Learn what is the best way to say "NO" in a different culture. I ask female college students and local women. Then I watch how women at bars and nightclubs interact with men. Pay for your own drinks, then you don't owe anyone anything. Remember, you can be firm without being rude. In many countries eye-to-eye contact or a smile to a stranger can be construed as an invitation.

Know what the Date Rape Drug is and how it works: Rophynol is odorless, tasteless and colorless. It is a tranquilizer that can be slipped easily into your drink, so do not leave your drink unattended in bars, and exercise good judgment when accepting food or drink from people. At parties, don't accept a glass of punch unless you trust the host. Alarming reports from traveling women confirm an increase in date rape drugging, both in foreign countries and the USA. Don't operate by thinking this can't happen to you. The health risks and emotional consequences of such an experience are obvious.

Body Language. Walk with your head up, swing your arms and act confident. Adopt a no-nonsense attitude. Stride with purpose and you'll be less a target for hustlers who prey on disoriented or timid tourists.

Try to sit or stand next to other women or family groups in restaurants, on trains or buses, and in other public places. It is unlikely that you will be approached or harassed if you're in the company of other people.

Basic Facts on Attackers. I learned these tips from a self-defense instructor . He interviewed a group of rapists in prison and learned what they look for when scoping out a woman. Here are some interesting facts:

• These men look for women on their cell phone, searching through their purse or engaged in other activities while walking, because such female targets are off guard and can be easily overpowered.
• The time of day men are most likely to attack and rape a woman is in the early morning, between 5 and 8:30 a.m.
• The number one place women are abducted from/attacked at is grocery store parking lots. Number two is office parking lots/garages, and number three is public restrooms. These men are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to a second, secluded location where they don't have to worry about getting caught.
• Only 2% of the rapists interviewed said they carried weapons because rape carries a 3-5 year sentence but rape with a weapon is 15-20 years. Therefore, if you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn't worth it because it will be time-consuming. These men said they will not pick on women who have umbrellas or other similar objects in their hands that can be used from a distance. Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon. So, the idea is to convince these guys you're not worth it while they are still at a distance.

Some Defense Mechanisms. If someone is following you on the street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or stairwell and if you feel they are acting suspiciously, look them in the face and ask them a question--like "What time is it?"--or make general small talk--"I can't believe it is so cold out here; we're in for a bad winter." Now you've seen their face and could identify them in a lineup, so you lose appeal as a target.

If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell "Stop! or "Stay back!" Most of the predators interviewed said they'd leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an EASY target. If you carry pepper spray (the instructor was a huge advocate of it and carries it with him wherever he goes), yelling "I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY!" and holding it out toward the attacker will be a deterrent.

Of course the best advice of all is--trust your instincts and if you feel something is off or wrong, get out, move on, flee even if it seems silly at the time. Do it quickly.

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