He's bigger. He's stronger. You can defend yourself anyway.

I saw a talk show once that annoyed me for a week. It was about a women who got raped by this guy who crawled in her bedroom window. "She was only four-foot-ten, and he was a large man," said the voice-over to the re-enactment, "There was no way she could have fought back."

Yeah, right.

It may or may not keep you from getting raped, but there's always something you can do to defend yourself, and it's usually worth it to try. This is true no matter how small you are, and even if Mom raised you to be a nice girl and not hit people like your brother did. All it takes it a bit of attitude re-adjustment.

Non-Violent Resistance: Not Just for the Civil Rights Movement

Not all self-defense involves ass-kicking. Sometimes all you need to do is run, or yell "fire"(it's more likely to attract attention than "help"). Turn around, stick your arm out, and tell that guy to stop following you. Loudly announce to the entire bus that this creep on your left keeps trying to touch you. Unceremoniously ditch your date if he starts to make you uncomfortable. Follow your instincts, even if you're afraid it'll make you look paranoid or rude. If a situation seems wrong, it probably is.

Learn How to Be a Woman Warrior

Take a self-defense class. I'm talking about practical, street-level self-defense here, not martial arts. If you can't find any in your area, ask around: the student health center, campus police, the women's center or feminist student groups, or female phys ed teachers might have some ideas on where you can find a self-defense class. Even if there are programs listed under "Self Defense" in the Yellow Pages, it can't hurt to ask women around you for opinions and recommendations.

If possible, take a women-only class, since women are attacked differently than men. Many women also feel psychologically better in an all-female class. Besides, you don't necessarily want a bunch of strange guys learning all your moves.

What To Know Before You Spray

If you use pepper spray or Mace, make sure you know how to properly use it and that it is easily accessible at all times. It's no use to you if it's at the bottom of your backpack and you have to dig for it, and it can blind you instead of the attacker if you point it the wrong way. Also, be aware that pepper spray is less effective against an attacker who is drunk or wearing glasses, and that unless you spray directly in his eyes, it can take up to a minute to work.

Carry Mace or pepper spray if it makes you feel better, but don't rely on it as your sole means of defense. Same goes for guns, knives, and stun guns. What if you don't have the weapon when you need it?

Use What You've Got

I just said you shouldn't rely on weapons. That's true. However, it's also useful to know that any object can be turned into a weapon in an emergency. Grab your umbrella with both hands and jab. Keys, pens, or pencils can be used to scrape or gouge. Carrying something heavy? Smack the attacker in the head with it, then run.

Self-defense classes can teach you the particulars, but giving your attacker a knee to the groin is always worth a try in an emergency (grab his shoulders first). You can also try poking him in the eyes, elbowing him in the throat, or kicking him in the knees. Know how to make a fist: thumb on the outside, not the inside.

Why This Works

It doesn't matter if you're a five foot women fighting a six foot man. Attackers do not expect women to fight back, so the element of surprise works to your advantage. Attackers expect you to be afraid, so if you are angry, they're shocked.

One caveat: don't do this stuff halfway. If you're squeamish, the eye-gouge maneuver is not going to work. This is where self-defense classes come in handy: they teach you that if someone wants to hurt you, it's okay to hurt them instead. It helps some people to pretend the attacker is actually attacking their sister, or their best friend. That really gets them angry. Of course, it's ideal if you think you're worth defending, too.

Fighting back won't always work. Sometimes, it's even not your best option. Just don't let anyone tell you that you're automatically helpless against a guy who's bigger.

Sources
Ms. Magazine
The Modern Women's Guide to Life by Elizabeth Chapman, Margaret Kassner, and Karen Kriberny
Safe Campuses Now
Women's Self-Defense class at Wesleyan University