What Scares You?

I just got back from Baltimore, MD. I attended the American Psychological Association Conference in DC on Thursday and Friday of last week (more on that later) and then spent 2 days with my brother and his family. I used alot of public transportation over the last four days - which is awesome I must say! Especially coming from Durham, NC, where there is not much in the way of public transportation.

I was getting instructions from my family on how to take the light rail to the airport and they told me not to take a little shortcut path because one of their acquaintances was mugged a few weeks ago on the path after getting off the light rail. The person who was mugged was a male.

As I walked to the light rail, I was carrying 2 bags, a suitcase and a potted plant that my brother gave me. While I was walking I was thinking about the man who was mugged and wondering what I would do if I were mugged. Irealized at this point, that as a woman, my bigger concern was what I would do if a potential mugger attempted to rape me. Not being a man, I don't know if men think about these things - lots of research and talking to men indicates that most do not think about being raped as a potential threat they may have to face. As a woman, it is something that you definitely think about and consider when walking, driving, running, existing.

My first plan of action was to visualize that I am safe at all times and having a safe walk to the light rail. I don't believe that is a 100% protection against attack, but for me, I find it helpful. My second plan of action was to walk fast and with determination and with a look that says leave me alone and don't mess with me. My third plan of action was that if anyone approached with menace that the only thing I was going to hang on to was the potted plant and that it might be helpful as something to knock someone in the head and buy myself time to run to safety. You might be thinking this is an awful plan, but that's not the point. It's unfortunate that women have to consider what we would do if we were attacked and most of us don't even think about it in a very calculated way - it's just there. And it's there whether you've ever been attacked or not.

I made it safetly to the light rail and safely home with no attacks. In fact, I found the people I encountered to be friendly and helpful. I look forward to the day when it isn't second nature for women to wonder what we would need to do to protect ourselves.