These women have shared some of their most unusual, creative and downright unhinged ideas for staying safe, and some are certainly more unconventional than others. These are suggestions shared by individuals based on their own experiences and ideas, not safety recommendations from The Thought Hive. Some may be impractical, unsafe or simply intended as humour, so use your own judgement and stick with trusted safety advice where it matters. Leave a comment at the end with your safety hacks for women.
Sara
“I’ve been befriending all my local crows so when I’m out walking I have eyes in the sky. Crows have been known to look out for people who take care of them.”
Cliffside79
“When I take an Uber to or from my home, I talk at length about my husband, a homicide detective. My husband is a graphic designer.”
JessieMae
“I feed all the birds and stray animals around my house. I’m always guarded. I even feed the homeless people and when my dog got lost, they found her. Just being kind to the right people and all the animals.”
Kay
“It’s not illegal to lie to strangers, and you don’t have to be nice to anyone.”
MaddieK
“As a police officer: your absolute best tool is awareness. Get your face out of your phone. Turn your headphones off. Pay attention. To people. To surroundings. See things, don’t just drift around. If someone gives you a weird feeling… heed it.”
Becca
“I love big purses! I can fit all my makeup, pads, hand sanitizer, a hammer, my keys, and my wallet!”
Mary Scott
“Well if I get nervous I fart so there’s that”
HannahRose
“Carry wasp spray on you at all times”
Country Cousin 1983
“My niece keeps a pair of size 13 men’s work boots, scuffed up and dirty, outside her apartment door. She plays heavy metal music sometimes or even just action movies to make it sound like she has a big scary guy living with her. Little do people know, my niece is scary enough on her own.”
michelle.644
“Winter soldier walk^”
Shaylee
“Eyes feel like 3D gummy candies when you stick your fingers deep into them. It’s like a sensory toy.”
TaylaM
“Looking at reflections everywhere. Cars, windows, anything. And shadows.”
BecLouise
“I feed all the birds and stray animals around my house. I’m always guarded. I even feed the homeless people and when my dog got lost, they found her. Just being kind to the right people and all the animals.”
Katie Jones
“Shoulders back, chin up, and confident walk. Always make eye contact. Speak if you need to. It lessens the probability of you being seen as a victim.”
Skylar
“Stanley cups are useful or really any big cup with a handle”
Bambam
- “every joint has the direction, where it can only be bend to a certain degree. get to know them. as much as they may look, it takes more way than you think.
- clap with you flat hand on the ears. with enough force the eardrum gets damaged and there goes his balance. Train.
- You are allowed to tell them you have AIDS (Even tell them you got it from a previous rape).
- You CAN rip it off. twist and pull with all the force and power putting into force. Train.
- don’t run. Most of the times, he will be faster. Be prepared for what is coming. So it won’t come from behind. Train.
- Don’t ask men for help. Most of the times its gonna be women who will stand up for you. Men are too cowardice.
- Train.”
Julie Deanna
“just incase you start liking baseball, makesure you ALWAYS keep a glove and ball with your bat 🥰”
Allison5753
“Everytime I’m alone outside I start twitching and talking to myself and then laugh hysterically for a few minutes then make direct eye contact with everyone u see and don’t look away”
Claire Cross
“The Venus Guard*. I had to google it and wow that is good. Shame it’s not well known. I’m sure this would make alot of girly/women feel a lot safer on night out. All for this one 🙌”
Jennifer
“Not unhinged but don’t have a routine”
julia Welborn
“I have a ring that looks like a pearl. I twist the pearl off and it’s a spike.”
whatawashthis
“Pen. 5th intercostal space on the left side, mid axillary line. You’re welcome.”
For non-medical people, that means upward through the hole near the left elbow.
The Random Things
“When I lived alone and ordered door dash I always ordered 2 drinks so the driver would think there were 2 people there”
Mary B
“dont forget to pack lunch in your bag. I recommend a big can of soup.”
LucyLou
“Always leave evidence everywhere forever lol”
K
“lots of things but an uncommon one is that I use an infant car seat mirror. I put it on my back seat facing the rear of the vehicle so I can see if anyone is walking up behind me while I load/unload my groceries”
MeganR
“Always look for the exits when you enter an unfamiliar place.”
Ashleigh
“I bark at people”
natomolheres
“Screaming randomly or talking to myself usually works and lets people know I’d be more of a hassle than what it’s worth”
marielenz214
“Always look for the exits when you enter an unfamiliar place”
EllieMay
“always check your back seat before you get in your car”
CourtneyK
“not super unhinged but Every time I’m out of town, people ask me for my name, I say a fake name just for extra measures”
Kyleahbabe
“For starters I NEVER have both earbuds in my ears when I’m out walking/shopping”
Sophiebee
“I’ve recently contemplated a mini cast iron for the car but so disappointed tho if I never get the chance to use it”
The lazy 🦥
“If you live alone but want pets, use Human names. No one questions a busy woman who has to get back to feed ‘Trevor’”
Linda
“Know that your elbow is the strongest part of your body, and you should be good to go! 💛💛”
Justin
“Drop to a knee and using the heal of your hand strike upwards between their junk and their belt buckle. It’ll lift them off balance and damage the cartilage. Then they won’t be able to walk for a while.”
AmeliaR
“Never walk with your head down.”
BellaGrace
“If someone is behind you, stop and let them pass.”
KaraM
“Start having a whole ass conversation with yourself. laugh at your funny ‘oops I just sh** myself’”
LilyRose
“Carry an air horn. Means and a tank top? Hard [unclear] by their clips, eye catching [unclear] the strip, hip scarf, [unclear] to someone, [unclear] number he.”
Tigerlily
“Crab walk and cackle if all else fails”
Star
“Always wear glitter, it gets everywhere and it’s hard to get off.”
