“Make A Damn Scene”: 35 “Unhinged” Women’s Safety Hacks That Work
Unorthodox methods women resort to in order to stay safe in public.
One reality of being born female is how unsafe the world is for her just by virtue of being born a woman. Sadly, there are many out there looking to target vulnerable females in supermarkets, carparks, gyms and virtually anywhere really. As a woman being observant and alert may not be enough to stay safe. It becomes necessary to arm oneself with an arsenal of survival skills while downplaying oneself so as not to attract the wrong kind of attention. The deadly kind, the potentially harmful kind, the kind we don’t want but is out there regardless so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Recently, a TikTok post gained attention on the subject when someone asked about the unorthodox or “unhinged” methods women use to keep themselves out of harm’s way. Scroll below to read the responses, collect tips and don’t forget to share your own advice in the comments sections.
Image source: BurntOutMofo, Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
911 dispatcher here: No. Second. Location.
Image source: Creighton Leigh, Jeff Tumale/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Don't tell strangers your name. it's literally ok to lie to strangers
Image source: Miss Fuss, Marcel Christen/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
My momma said you can always apologize for overreacting. You can’t apologize if you’re dead. Make a damn scene.
Image source: Tara Entrekin, freepik
Tiny can of pink spray paint, impossible to get out of eyes, easy to get a description on someone with pink spray paint in their eyes walking into a hospital for help
Image source: ????????, freepik
You have NO obligation to open your door everytime someone knocks on it.
Image source: Amy Kelly, Leo Rivas/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
I heard someone say to teach your children an adult isn’t going to ask a child for help. They don’t need a child to find their lost dog or whatever.
Image source: Megan O, freepik
A cop came to my high school and told the girls “you have a better chance of surviving a gun shot than a man who takes you to a 2nd location” never let a man force you into his car even at gunpoint
Image source: Hannah, Frank Flores/ Unsplash (not the actual photo)
I tell my teen daughter and her friends that if an older guys can't get a girl his age, it's because there's something wrong with him.
Image source: Cora, Jack Finnigan/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Thought a guy put something in my drink once I switched them when he wasn’t looking and he passed out 10 minutes later
Image source: sabrina, freepik
My friend in middle school realized she was being followed. She turned around to face the guy who had a smirk. Started twitching & cackling then sprinted dead on at him. grown dude ran away screaming
Image source: Marissa, freepik
Keep a bat with a knee-high sock on the business end (not where you hold it)—that way, if/when the bat is grabbed mid-swing, they’ll grab the sock, bat slips out and you can keep on swinging
Image source: Kandikate9, Ümit Yıldırım/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Scream mom don’t scream help. You scream, Mom, every single mother in that vicinity is gonna look.
Image source: Your mom, freepik
I heard someone once say when in dangerous situations for women, “Dont get scared, get angry.” It changed my entire way of thinking bc my gut reaction is to be scared
Image source: Kristel Escobar, freepik
To this day remind my adult child “if you are abducted…. Fight to the death. Either you die or they die, but someone dies.
Image source: Raee Dash, freepik
When you’re out in public look around. Stop being in them phones. Saved me a few times.
Image source: MrHelenHunt, Julia Taubitz/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
My dad used to say "the leading cause of death is embarrassment."
Image source: Lucia Stephens, freepik
When you are anywhere and you sense or see a man staring at you, stop and stare at them back. With no emotion. Now you know what they look like and you look like less of a target to them. Stay aware
Image source: ?Julie Reinvented? | UGC, freepik
Always trust ur gut feeling even if there is no logical reason to feel that way. Don’t feel like taking the stairs or parking somewhere then don’t. Get the ick from someone then steer clear of them
Image source: hansgruberdiedhard, Brittney Weng/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
I keep men’s shoes outside my front door so it looks like a big dude lives here.
Image source: oxbrair_upcycle , LightFieldStudios/Envato (not the actual photo)
use pepper gel not spray! spray can blow back in your face and it forms a cloud. gel shoots straight with no blow back and it's sticky the more they rub the worse it gets!
Image source: Sandy Beige, freepik
I befriended the homeless men that would hang out outside my job. My boss would get mad at me. I told him I felt safer with them as my friends. One of them saved me from a guy trying to rob me
Image source: NocturnalTendencies, freepik
Almost got trafficked driving home. call 911, don’t EVER STOP DRIVING NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS. Keep going even if they ram your car, do NOT stop, you are not overreacting, they aren’t drunk, DONT STOP
Image source: GoldGlitter , freepik
coworker once told me not to keep a bat in my car, but a bat, glove, and a ball. going for a bat can be spun as a premeditated attack, but if you jave the whole set you can argue you were gonna play
Image source: Kaitlyn, Daniil Onischenko/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Decide not to die when you’re attacked and don’t waiver on that decision
Image source: BeautifulDisaster, Dex Ezekiel/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
A hydroflask. Don’t ask- but it seriously SAVED MY LIFE one time. You a hit a mf in they’re head w all you got & it’ll knock them clean out.
Image source: Ava, freepik
Don’t post your kids or family on social media. And really limit what you share out there. The internet is full of everyone including bad people
Image source: ? Julie Bee ?, freepik
I was approached and knew he was going to attack me..I said dont I know your mother from church...the confusion on his face gave me enough time to run away
Image source: notlikethedest, Ben Moreland/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
LADIES! A man will NEVER ask you for help if he actually needs it, especially car related. He will ask another man. If he's asking you, LEAVE IMMEDIATELY (happens at gas stations or parking lots)
Image source: user934219956257, freepik
Never scream “leave me alone!” If some dude is following you, that makes people think it’s a lover’s spat. Scream “I don’t know you!” That activates people
Image source: Molly, Andy Vult/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Idk if it’s saved my life, but if someone starts acting funny in parking lots I pull out my phone and “answer” my “bf” and scream at him “YOU HAVE MY LOCATION WHERE TF DO YOU THINK I AM, MARCUS?”
Image source: jbugg$, Hannah Popowski/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
If someone is trying to kidnap you just lay down. It’s gonna take both hands of the attacker so you can scream. It will cause a scene. Best advice from a police officer!
#1
Image source: BurntOutMofo, Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
911 dispatcher here: No. Second. Location.
#2
Image source: Creighton Leigh, Jeff Tumale/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Don't tell strangers your name. it's literally ok to lie to strangers
#3
Image source: Miss Fuss, Marcel Christen/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
My momma said you can always apologize for overreacting. You can’t apologize if you’re dead. Make a damn scene.
#4
Image source: Tara Entrekin, freepik
Tiny can of pink spray paint, impossible to get out of eyes, easy to get a description on someone with pink spray paint in their eyes walking into a hospital for help
#5
Image source: ????????, freepik
You have NO obligation to open your door everytime someone knocks on it.
#6
Image source: Amy Kelly, Leo Rivas/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
I heard someone say to teach your children an adult isn’t going to ask a child for help. They don’t need a child to find their lost dog or whatever.
#7
Image source: Megan O, freepik
A cop came to my high school and told the girls “you have a better chance of surviving a gun shot than a man who takes you to a 2nd location” never let a man force you into his car even at gunpoint
#8
Image source: Hannah, Frank Flores/ Unsplash (not the actual photo)
I tell my teen daughter and her friends that if an older guys can't get a girl his age, it's because there's something wrong with him.
#9
Image source: Cora, Jack Finnigan/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Thought a guy put something in my drink once I switched them when he wasn’t looking and he passed out 10 minutes later
#10
Image source: sabrina, freepik
My friend in middle school realized she was being followed. She turned around to face the guy who had a smirk. Started twitching & cackling then sprinted dead on at him. grown dude ran away screaming
#11
Image source: Marissa, freepik
Keep a bat with a knee-high sock on the business end (not where you hold it)—that way, if/when the bat is grabbed mid-swing, they’ll grab the sock, bat slips out and you can keep on swinging
#12
Image source: Kandikate9, Ümit Yıldırım/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Scream mom don’t scream help. You scream, Mom, every single mother in that vicinity is gonna look.
#13
Image source: Your mom, freepik
I heard someone once say when in dangerous situations for women, “Dont get scared, get angry.” It changed my entire way of thinking bc my gut reaction is to be scared
#14
Image source: Kristel Escobar, freepik
To this day remind my adult child “if you are abducted…. Fight to the death. Either you die or they die, but someone dies.
#15
Image source: Raee Dash, freepik
When you’re out in public look around. Stop being in them phones. Saved me a few times.
#16
when driving, never go as soon as the light turns green. intersection collisions are more common than you think! Image source: sofy#17
Image source: MrHelenHunt, Julia Taubitz/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
My dad used to say "the leading cause of death is embarrassment."
#18
Image source: Lucia Stephens, freepik
When you are anywhere and you sense or see a man staring at you, stop and stare at them back. With no emotion. Now you know what they look like and you look like less of a target to them. Stay aware
#19
Image source: ?Julie Reinvented? | UGC, freepik
Always trust ur gut feeling even if there is no logical reason to feel that way. Don’t feel like taking the stairs or parking somewhere then don’t. Get the ick from someone then steer clear of them
#20
Image source: hansgruberdiedhard, Brittney Weng/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
I keep men’s shoes outside my front door so it looks like a big dude lives here.
#21
Stay off your cell phone in parking lots. You are distracted and aren’t paying attention. A lot of people with bad intentions park and wait for women Image source: Linda.B.624#22
Image source: oxbrair_upcycle , LightFieldStudios/Envato (not the actual photo)
use pepper gel not spray! spray can blow back in your face and it forms a cloud. gel shoots straight with no blow back and it's sticky the more they rub the worse it gets!
#23
Image source: Sandy Beige, freepik
I befriended the homeless men that would hang out outside my job. My boss would get mad at me. I told him I felt safer with them as my friends. One of them saved me from a guy trying to rob me
#24
Image source: NocturnalTendencies, freepik
Almost got trafficked driving home. call 911, don’t EVER STOP DRIVING NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS. Keep going even if they ram your car, do NOT stop, you are not overreacting, they aren’t drunk, DONT STOP
#25
Image source: GoldGlitter , freepik
coworker once told me not to keep a bat in my car, but a bat, glove, and a ball. going for a bat can be spun as a premeditated attack, but if you jave the whole set you can argue you were gonna play
#26
Image source: Kaitlyn, Daniil Onischenko/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Decide not to die when you’re attacked and don’t waiver on that decision
#27
Image source: BeautifulDisaster, Dex Ezekiel/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
A hydroflask. Don’t ask- but it seriously SAVED MY LIFE one time. You a hit a mf in they’re head w all you got & it’ll knock them clean out.
#28
Image source: Ava, freepik
Don’t post your kids or family on social media. And really limit what you share out there. The internet is full of everyone including bad people
#29
Image source: ? Julie Bee ?, freepik
I was approached and knew he was going to attack me..I said dont I know your mother from church...the confusion on his face gave me enough time to run away
#30
Dude here. palm strikes hit harder than fists aim for eyes, throat or groin or whatever hes not covering up. learn how joints work make them bend the wrong way. Also you can break a pen15 look it up Image source: Al_Buquerque#31
Image source: notlikethedest, Ben Moreland/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
LADIES! A man will NEVER ask you for help if he actually needs it, especially car related. He will ask another man. If he's asking you, LEAVE IMMEDIATELY (happens at gas stations or parking lots)
#32
Image source: user934219956257, freepik
Never scream “leave me alone!” If some dude is following you, that makes people think it’s a lover’s spat. Scream “I don’t know you!” That activates people
#33
Image source: Molly, Andy Vult/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Idk if it’s saved my life, but if someone starts acting funny in parking lots I pull out my phone and “answer” my “bf” and scream at him “YOU HAVE MY LOCATION WHERE TF DO YOU THINK I AM, MARCUS?”
#34
Image source: jbugg$, Hannah Popowski/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
If someone is trying to kidnap you just lay down. It’s gonna take both hands of the attacker so you can scream. It will cause a scene. Best advice from a police officer!
#35
Never let them pick you up from your house. Never let anyone know where you live , till you know you can trust them. Image source: melissaflores5025DE
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