According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network), an American is assaulted every 107 seconds.
What this means is that 17.7 million American women have been victims of sexual assault or rape. While 44% of victims are under the age of 18, that number nearly doubles to 80% of women under the age of 30. When faced with statistics like this, women definitely have a right to feel unsafe when they’re out, especially if they are alone.
But take heart, ladies! There are many options to keep yourself safe that don’t involve hiding in your bed and never leaving your room. Self-defense is always a smart tool for a woman to have in her arsenal. While this can mean self-defense classes or martial arts, there are also products that women can use to protect themselves for those who may not want to fight.
That’s where Women On Guard comes in.
Women On Guard is a company that sells self-defense products like pepper spray, mace, and tasers. Founded in 2006 by Susan Eaton and Martha Z. Martinez, Women On Guard aims to make women feel safe and secure by providing non-lethal products. As stated on their website, “Our mission is to empower women with the options of self defense for personal safety.”
The website is primarily designed for discreet online shopping options. Many women may not feel comfortable purchasing such items in person; and, in fact, many of the items would not be readily available in your average store. Additionally, the site is discreet for those women who may be living in dangerous situations and might not be able to shop freely for weapons. I would caution you, though, because some states have rules on those kinds of online purchases; so, check your state’s laws first before purchasing anything.
Now, you may be wondering why a site like this would be important or relevant. Well, being able to protect yourself in a non-lethal way is incredibly important. While most assaults against women that you hear about are sexual assaults like rape, simple assaults are actually more common. Simple assaults are categorized by the Bureau of Justice as “an attack without a weapon resulting either in no injury, less serious injury” or as “attempted assault without a weapon.” Many women don’t know how to physically defend themselves in those kinds of situations, so it’s not a bad idea to consider carrying something around to protect yourself just in case you end up in a bad place.
Women On Guard is a good starting place for those looking into basic self protection. The site is clear and concise and gives clear definitions of all of their products. One of their main goals is for women to make clear, well-thought-out purchases, and they go above and beyond for their customers. They take a lot of the guesswork out of shopping for you. They will tell you where it is legal/illegal to buy or own their products, give you a brief history lesson on the origin of each product, and provide video tutorials and client testimony.
Because this is a site geared toward women, many of the products are packaged in really cute ways — like in lipstick containers and perfume atomizers — with choices of pretty colors, like pink and white. The products are multi-purpose, but some are geared toward certain situations. They have a mace spray made specifically for joggers, and they even have a stun gun that looks like a Blackberry! Another helpful product they have are test strips that you can put in your drink to detect date rape drugs.
While you may not think that products like these are necessary, it’s never a bad idea to be a little extra safe. You may never have to use stun guns or alarm whistles, but for some people, the peace of mind that comes with having just a little tube of pepper spray is worth it.