Interesting letter with some concrete suggestions on how women can protect themselves from men. That list can be a long one: martial arts training, concealed weapon permits, avoiding male-dominated professions like science and the U.S. military. Or just stay away from men and don’t go outside.
Unfortunately, the fact remains that most sexual assaults happen at home, perpetrated by an intimate partner or family member.
It doesn’t look like much has changed. In the writer’s college days, those “discreet, modest” qualities didn’t actually prevent sexual assault and only kept a lot of women from reporting them.
How about some suggestions for men? Get involved … on any level. Take a stand, speak up. Interrupt speech that objectifies, demeans, or sexualizes women. The specter of sexual assault affects every woman we know — our moms, sisters, daughters, friends and lovers.