Book review of 139 Ways Young Women Can Prevent Sexual Assault

Review of 139 Ways Young Women Can Prevent Sexual Assault by Richard Hart.

After reviewing a large number of books on self defense and assault prevention, this book ranks low on my list.  Most of the information that he gives is sound and good but there is a certain aspect of the book that didn’t sit well with me. It took me a while and some research to figure it out, but he’s an arm chair fighter and gives advice about physical conflict from that position. In several areas he makes it clear “A woman stands virtually NO CHANCE physically against a man outweighing her by 45 pounds” [emphasis his] (page 19).  I understand where he is coming from in that, a trained women should not be cocky about her ability and should avoid conflict; however, one of the areas that women lack in self defense is assertiveness against fear.  Let me explain: A women would have no problem telling a child forcefully “stop hitting me!” but if it was against a man outweighing her by 45 pounds she’ll be more intimidated.  So, what is his solution? Avoidance. Okay, that’s great but what about those situations where you can’t avoid and have to engage in conflict?  So, the young woman is dragged off to a remote area, punched a couple of times and told to take off her clothes or the attacker will beat the living crap out of her and leave her to die. And she remembers the advice from this book she read “A woman stands virtually NO CHANCE physically against a man outweighing her by 45 pounds” and gives in without a fight.
I did some checking on his websites and it turns out he has no combat, military, law enforcement or martial arts experience but lots of volunteer work and certifications.  I’m sorry, but when you are discussing locks and alarms or capital punishment or criminal justice theory books and seminars are great, but if you are discussing physical conflict, person to person violence, you should be acquainted with what it’s like to fight. Or at the very least be well read and talk to fighters, especially female ones. There are a number of good books, websites and testimonies of women who were attacked by larger people or outnumbered and successfully fought back. His bibliography in the back only contains 1 book and 3 journals/papers!  But he IS available for seminars and you can buy his books and CDs in bulk for a discount.

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