Through a Rapist’s Eyes
Excerpts from Interviews with Incarcerated Offenders
A group of convicted rapists and date rapists in prison were interviewed about how they selected their victims. Their responses revealed some unsettling but important insights that can help increase personal safety awareness.
What Offenders Look For in a Potential Victim
- Hair Style: Women with ponytails, buns, or braids were most commonly targeted, as these styles are easier to grab. Long hair is generally more preferred by attackers. Women with short hair were rarely targeted.
- Clothing: Offenders looked for clothing that could be removed quickly. Some carried scissors to cut through garments.
- Distraction: Women distracted by phones, digging through purses, or otherwise disengaged were considered easier targets due to lowered situational awareness.
- Time of Day: The most common time for attacks was early morning—between 5:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
- Location: The top three locations for abductions or attacks were:
- Grocery store parking lots
- Office parking lots or garages
- Public restrooms
How They Plan to Attack
Rapists often look to quickly grab a victim and move them to a secondary location where there is less risk of being caught. Only 2% of those interviewed carried weapons because the legal penalties for rape are lower than for rape involving a weapon.
Resistance Discourages Attack
Offenders shared that if a woman shows resistance, even for a moment, they are likely to give up and move on. Their goal is to find someone who won’t fight back or cause a scene.
Items like umbrellas were considered deterrents because they can be used from a distance. In contrast, keys were not — they require close proximity and are often fumbled.
Tips Shared by the Instructor
- Make Eye Contact and Speak: If you think you’re being followed, turn, look the person in the face, and speak:
“Do you know the time?” or “Can you believe how cold it is?”
This suggests you could later identify them, decreasing your appeal as a target. - Use Strong Verbal Commands:
If someone approaches you aggressively, put your hands up and shout:
“STOP!” or “STAY BACK!”
Rapists said they often walked away from women who showed they were willing to fight. - Use Pepper Spray as a Deterrent:
Hold it up and yell, “I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY!” to discourage the attacker.
Simple But Effective Self-Defense Techniques
- If grabbed from behind around the waist:
Pinch under the upper arm (between the armpit and elbow) or inner upper thigh — hard. These areas are extremely sensitive. One woman injured her attacker so severely with this move that he required stitches. - Go for the groin:
A targeted slap or strike can cause significant pain and quickly change the situation in your favor. - Finger lock:
If the attacker raises his hands toward you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back with pressure. This can cause immediate pain and disable his grip.
Final Reminders
Always:
- Stay alert and aware of your surroundings.
- Walk with confidence and purpose.
- Trust your instincts — if something feels wrong, it probably is.
- Avoid isolated areas when alone, especially at vulnerable times of day.