2008 Woodie Awards
Women practice defensive drinking to avoid attacks
Self-defense classes, police services also can help protect those at risk
Jayme Leatherman Ranger Reporter
Issue date: 9/22/05 Section: Issues
- Page 1 of 1
Date rape statistics are staggering.
Women who are age 16 to 24 are more than four times as likely to be date raped, 90 percent of date rapes occur when either the victim or attacker is drinking and 84 percent of women who are date raped know their attacker.
A study performed by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Institute of Justice found that "about 3 percent of college women experienced a complete and/or attempted rape."
Other statistics state that 25 percent of college women are victims of rape.
Being safe means being aware and not becoming a statistic.
"While in a bar, a girl is vulnerable," said Gary Leatherman, a former bartender and an Amarillo College students.
"It is important for them to be aware of what is going on around them.
"It would be relatively easy for a guy to drop a drug into an unprotected drink."
To combat the dangers, some college girls are practicing "defensive drinking."
Defensive drinking is watching the bartender make a mixed drink or making the bartender let the customer open a beer herself.
It means keeping the drink in the customer's presence at all times.
There are Web sites that offer a full list of steps for a woman to protect herself while defensive drinking, including womenshealth.org.
Some young women seem to think it is not worth the risk.
One thought is that if you have to be that defensive, it takes the fun out of going out.
Even when out with friends, it can be risky. Stats indicate that 47 percent of rapes were by dates or romantic acquaintances.
Defensive drinking may not be enough to keep all women safe from sexual predators. Self-defense is another option. AC has included self-defense in its leisure studies classes.
Luke Morrison, leisure studies coordinator, said three such classes are offered: Akido, Korybudo and Traditional GoJuryu Karate. Details of the class times are included in the Continuing Education catalog.
The AC Police Department also aims at protecting female students, offering escorts after dark to anyone who calls 371-5163.
Women who are age 16 to 24 are more than four times as likely to be date raped, 90 percent of date rapes occur when either the victim or attacker is drinking and 84 percent of women who are date raped know their attacker.
A study performed by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Institute of Justice found that "about 3 percent of college women experienced a complete and/or attempted rape."
Other statistics state that 25 percent of college women are victims of rape.
Being safe means being aware and not becoming a statistic.
"While in a bar, a girl is vulnerable," said Gary Leatherman, a former bartender and an Amarillo College students.
"It is important for them to be aware of what is going on around them.
"It would be relatively easy for a guy to drop a drug into an unprotected drink."
To combat the dangers, some college girls are practicing "defensive drinking."
Defensive drinking is watching the bartender make a mixed drink or making the bartender let the customer open a beer herself.
It means keeping the drink in the customer's presence at all times.
There are Web sites that offer a full list of steps for a woman to protect herself while defensive drinking, including womenshealth.org.
Some young women seem to think it is not worth the risk.
One thought is that if you have to be that defensive, it takes the fun out of going out.
Even when out with friends, it can be risky. Stats indicate that 47 percent of rapes were by dates or romantic acquaintances.
Defensive drinking may not be enough to keep all women safe from sexual predators. Self-defense is another option. AC has included self-defense in its leisure studies classes.
Luke Morrison, leisure studies coordinator, said three such classes are offered: Akido, Korybudo and Traditional GoJuryu Karate. Details of the class times are included in the Continuing Education catalog.
The AC Police Department also aims at protecting female students, offering escorts after dark to anyone who calls 371-5163.