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generally speaking - no, but there are certain precautions that you should observe which might make you a less likely victim:

1. don't want to be a spoilsport, but the more you're out, the more likely you are to encounter a rapist, just in terms of actual time spent outside your house (I am talking about stranger rapes here, not the kind ocurring in relationships, families, houseshares, differnt rules apply to those).

2. So, if you are going out, know where you're going and with whom, don't necessarily trust people just because they are friends of friends when it comes to getting a lift home; arrange or know how you're going to get back, inform people in advance (flatmates, other friends, relatives - just as long as one or a few others know your plans) so they can call help if you're not back / at a certain agreed spot when you said you would be; carry a cell phone with you and always have enough money for a taxi home or to a friend's house (whichever is the closest safe place) just in case

3. avoid dark / badly-lit areas, side streets etc, also avoid standing at lonely bus stops in the middle of the night, it's actually better to walk home as long as it's not down a lonely country-road!

4. DO NOT walk with a walkman or ipod, this reduces your chance of taking in what's going on around you - always be aware and take everything in consciously, this allows you to react to potentially dangerous situations instead of being taken by surprise

5. practise being confident - walk with your head up, at a normal to quick but not panicky pace, look others in the eye (don't stare at them but if you happen to catch someone's eye who's walking past, don't drop your eyes), exude confidence in your speech; do not show fear if at all possible in your general demeanour

6. DO NOT carry weapons or pepper spray, as your attacker can and will use them against you (he's probably prepared for something like that and stronger than you) or wind can blow sprays in your own face and affect you instead

7. DO NOT get too panicky about the possibility of getting raped, otherwise your fears will translate into behaviours that act as signals to other people and actually make you a mor likely / easy target than you normally would be

for more of the obvious tips as well as other information, see http://www.hendersonville-pd.o rg/PreventionTips/RapePreventi onTips.html

all the best!

Learn more about this author, Vanessa Fagan.
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