Women often become targets of sexual predators because of their pre-conceived notion that they are easy crime targets because they are weak, timid and vulnerable. They see them as easy to attack or control especially by those who may also see women as sexual objects and someone they can take advantage of because of the weaker strength.

Sexual Crimes
Sexual abuse is one of the worst crimes women have to face. However, rape is not always a crime of sexual gratification but of power and the need to control another person. When a woman is raped she is left feeling violated and powerless; she may need long term counseling in order to recover from the affects of a sexual assault.

Date rape is also a crime against women that is growing at an alarming rate. Date rape is most likely to occur on the first or second date and is more prominent in bars, clubs and on college campuses where the predator will dissolve drugs such as GHB or Rohypnol in the woman’s drink thus causing them to black out and lose control over their own bodily functions. In addition to leaving the women vulnerable to a sexual assault, these drugs may also cause serious illnesses or death.

Domestic Violence
Domestic violence comes in many different forms and affects both men and women. It includes anything from verbal abuse to physical violence, and sadly many women live with domestic violence for years and never attempt to seek help. It’s difficult to know if they fear repercussions from their partner if they report the abuse or are too embarrassed to report what their partner is doing to them

Any woman who is a victim of domestic violence should seek help immediately. Whether that involves calling a hotline for help, seeking a therapist or calling the police to have the abuser arrested, women need to understand there is always another way. There is no reason a woman or man should stay in a situation that is dangerous and forces them to endure the pain alone. All they need is to learn about the resources that are available for victims of domestic violence.

Avoid Making Yourself Vulnerable to Predators
Women have the ability to take their safety and security into their own hands thus learning how to protect themselves from predators. There are many defense classes that are focused strictly toward women or male and female combination. These classes will teach the student the techniques of basic fighting as well as lessons in safety.

Women may also choose to carry non-lethal weapons such as MACE or pepper spray that will bring the predator down and protect the victim from any harm. You may never have to use either of them; having them in your possession will often drive any predator away since they would rather seek another victim rather than seek being subjected to the spray.

In spite of the serious problem that exists in crimes against women the problem can turn itself around if women learn how they can keep themselves safe and decrease their vulnerability.

By: Rebecca M. Jacobs

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