Recently, a woman at my college found a man in her closet wearing her clothes. This was not the first time she and her roommates had found strangers in their apartment either. Reportedly, they found two men sitting on their couch one day as well. This is absolutely terrifying. As a young woman, especially one who walks alone across campus after dark often, I'm a little spooked. I am also very glad that I live further from campus, seeing as this incident occurred at an off-campus student housing complex, just a hop and a skip off our campus.
We, women that is, are taught from a young age to use the "buddy system," carry mace and place our keys between our fingers in case of an attack. We are told to take self-defense classes, and when possible to carry a taser. We can't do that on campus, because a taser is considered a dangerous weapon. That's right folks, we can't carry anything that might actually be used to defend ourselves... because we might hurt someone with it. This doesn't just affect women, either. Men often find themselves in situations where they need to defend themselves as well. They might have a physical advantage to a woman in the same situation, but we don't teach them to carry mace and hold their keys like they're Wolverine.
What is someone to do, when they find strangers in their own home? Let's say these students were coming home from class, so they probably don't have anything to protect themselves with. They are entering their home; their safe space. What are we supposed to do if the walls and locked doors of the place we are supposed to be at our most comfortable and safe are now compromised? How are we supposed to be able to sleep? How are we supposed to be able to focus on our studies if we are afraid of someone, ANYONE entering our space with intentions unknown?
So I refuse to accept that carrying a vile of eye irritant, and placing a couple house keys between my fingers are what's going to save me in today's world. The only solution is to work on our society. Make people attacking people unacceptable. Make RAPE CULTURE unacceptable. Teach young girls and boys to love and not to hate. Teach children to respect other's space and property. Instead of providing ways to get out of situations, let's provide ways to STOP the situations from happening.
