Being street smart: The book on physical and digital safety for women
Story by Leila Hawkins
Photo by Seyed Amir Mohammad Tabatabaee / creative licence
It is a sad state of affairs that we’re still talking about women’s safety as if it isn’t a fundamental right enshrined in law. But the reality is that 1 in 3 women globally still experience some form of physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime, while legal protections and deterrents are being rolled back. If that wasn’t bad enough, spending more and more of our lives on social media has led to the rise of online misogyny, and even campaigns created to discredit women online.
Women’s self defence is not a new concept, but it continues to divide opinion. Proponents argue that it reduces sexual assaults and empowers women—after all, you’ll probably feel more confident walking down the street alone knowing you can tackle a would-be opponent to the ground. Critics, however, point out that women shouldn’t have to bear the burden of protecting themselves. Instead, efforts should focus on investing in systems that prevent violence in the first place and teach men to, essentially, not assault women.
In an ideal world, this would be the priority. But even post-Me Too we’re not there yet. Last year, during an episode of a popular BBC chat show, acclaimed actor Saoirse Ronan guested alongside three male Hollywood stars. There was some lighthearted chat about training in self-defence for a movie role, with actor Paul Mescal asking, comically, how someone would have time to grab their mobile phone during an attack “That’s what girls have to think about all the time. Am I right ladies?” Ronan interjected, which was followed by an awkward moment of silence that quickly went viral across the internet. It’s not something men have to think about, was the takeaway.
Joy Farrow and Laura Frombach are experts in law enforcement and cybersecurity, and the authors of Street Smart Safety for Women: Your Guide to Defensive Living. Filled with real-life scenarios and anecdotes from the authors’ own lives, they neatly sum up the reasoning for the book early on: “We believe that a large part of the reason that violence against women is normalised is because most men… have no idea that this is a global health emergency for women. This includes judicial systems and law enforcement, which is composed, of course, primarily of men.” (As a worthwhile footnote, the authors emphasise that it’s not all men that are at fault for aggression, and the information offered here is useful for everyone.)
More than a guide listing defensive tactics, it’s a well-researched book informed by psychologists that explores human behaviours like influence and manipulation. A standout aspect is its compassionate approach, with a first chapter tackling traumas and their consequences (for example, disassociation and addictions). Readers are encouraged to understand these and be kind to themselves rather than self-blame, as a starting point to pay attention to what the authors call, ‘safety intuition.’
The chapter on weapons may be jarring for those of us outside the US with very different gun cultures (and is unsurprising given the authors’ backgrounds), but this also presents a balanced discussion that prompts readers to reflect on their motivations for carrying a weapon.
Beyond physical safety, the book also covers digital security, financial scams and online dating, reminders that safety isn’t just about walking home at night, but also safeguarding in the digital world and protecting our mental health. Street Smart Safety for Women can be read two ways: a thorough, practical guide on self-protection, whether physical or digital; or a reference book on the science behind coercion and abusive behaviour.
Street Smart Safety for Women is out now, published by Health Communications Inc.
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