5 Ways to Protect Youself
There is no perfect way to protect yourself, but being prepared can go a long way!
1. Know that you have the right to set sexual limits.
You may have different limits with different people; your limits may change. It's a good idea to know what you want or don't want before you end up in the back seat of a car.
2. Communicate those limits.
Get them across to the other person. If you can't talk about your limits with another person, then you should probably be more cautious anyway.
3. Trust your feelings.
If you feel you are being pressured into unwanted sex or situations, you're right.
4. Pay attention to behavior that doesn't seem right.
- Someone sitting or standing to close who is not bothered by your discomfort.
- Power stares-looking through you or down at you.
- Someone who blocks your way.
- Someone speaking in a way or acting as if he or she knows you more intimately than he or she does.
- Someone who grabs or pushed you to get his or her way.
- Some who doesn't listen or disregards what you are saying (like “no”).
5. Be assertive.
- Get angry when someone does something to you that you don't want.
- Act immediately with some kind of negative response.
- Stand up for yourself-it's okay to be rude to someone who is (sexually) pressuring you, even if it hurts his or her feelings. After all, he or she is not paying attention to your feelings.