robin wood
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
ah I found some research done on it. Thankfully my worry is wrong - You are better off fighting the attacker than complying.
Studies have finally dispelled the myth that women are unable to protect themselves and that resistance will only "make things worse," replacing this erroneous claim with newfound data: immediate and aggressive responses including fighting back are effective. Conversely pleading, reasoning or appealing to a rapists humanity is not - the latter being "almost universally futile," notes Dr. Judith Herman, foremost authority on trauma and author of the best selling book Trauma and Recovery.
"By not resisting rape, women may be putting themselves at greater risk," says Sarah Ullman, assistant professor from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Of course fighting carries risks, but Ullmans research on resistance strategies concluded that a womans "level of physical injury is mainly determined by the offenders use of violence" and initial blows struck, not because she fought back.
Having choices and defense skills may also be critical in the aftermath. "The women who fought to the best of their abilities were not only more likely to be successful in thwarting the rape attempt, but less likely to suffer severe distress symptoms," wrote Herman. "By contrast, women who submitted without a struggle were more likely to be highly self critical and depressed in the aftermath."
This is clearly research done in the US where a high proportion of folk carry guns and violent attack is more common than here. Do you think it relates directly? and does it help folk decide whether women are safe in the English countryside or not?
When I read something like this "foremost authority on trauma" I think who says so? Someone once put out a press release calling me "internationally respected craftsman" and all the papers just printed it. I quite liked it and sometimes use it myself but they are simply marketing words, note she is also "author of the best selling book"
Regarding arming yourself does anyone remember WPC Nisha Patel-Nasri the off duty police officer much publicised victim of knife attack, turned out it was her own kitchen knife http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article718630.ece
And her husband is currently on trial suspected of being involved.
http://www.lifestyleextra.com/ShowS...ws_headline=husband_denies_murder_of_wpc_wife
People remember the initial report of a vicious knife attack and fear for their own safety, so often the story is different. We live in one of the safest times there has ever been but for some bizarre reason are fed daily with fear.
I liked the comparison of the chances of being attacked or struck by lightening, does anyone have any statistics on how many random attacks occur in countryside? Certainly there seem plenty of people here who have spent plenty of safe time out there.
Life is not without risk, I forget who said "a ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for" I would not propose going out in a dingy in a force 10, its about understanding the true risk and enjoying life.