As Halloween approaches, we are confronted with a number of dilemmas: Who (or what) will we dress as? Should we stay in and binge-watch the whole Saw franchise, or participate in SFU’s annual club crawl? Between finishing our last midterm papers and making holiday plans—not to mention having other, even more important priorities, like planning our careers —we don’t have time to worry about getting assaulted on our way home from a party.
And really, we shouldn’t have to. It isn’t our responsibility to cover up, moderate our drinking habits and stay inside to deter those who are delusionally believe that they are entitled to women’s bodies. Personally, if I read one more article that condescendingly advises women not to wear sexy costumes because showing skin encourages predatory behavior, I will strangle someone (namely, the author of said article) with the blow-up tail of my latex cat suit.
That being said, until rapists learn not to rape, there are precautions we can take that will make us feel slightly safer, or might help create an opening for an escape route in threatening situations. Although there is no documented evidence that perpetrators are more likely to commit sexual or gender-based crimes on Halloween, it is a prime opportunity for some small reminders that apply to any night of the year.
1. Equip yourself.
No, I don’t mean stash an actual stake in your purse for your Buffy costume (though, if you know where I can find one, you have my email.) There are tons of free or cheap apps available that are designed to help bail you out of harmful or just plain uncomfortable situations. Guardly (which is $1.99 for a one-month subscription) allows users to send emergency alerts to family or friends, 911, and even campus police. For less dire circumstances, there is the free Bail Me Out app, which you can use to prompt a fake call if someone is relentlessly hitting on you and you need an excuse to leave. There is also the Burner app, which permits users to generate “disposable” phone numbers that they can delete at their own will, so as soon as you “burn” the number you give out, you’ll stop receiving any messages that are sent to it. So, you know when you give someone a fake phone number just to get rid of them, and they decide to call you right then and there to “see if they got the number right”? Burner’s got your back for that!
2. Keep spare change on hand.
Of course, you can’t always use your phone in an emergency, especially if a cellular or WiFi connection isn’t available. This might sound like advice from someone’s very old but well-meaning grandma, but always keep some spare change on hand in case you need to use a pay phone. It also might be a good idea to keep a cab number in your pocket, shoe or bra, just in case you fling your second-gen Motorola Moto G from a balcony in a display of valiant drunkenness. We’ve all been there, trust me.
3. Stick to beverages with caps.
If you’re concerned about leaving a bottle of booze around at a house party, stick to canned or bottled beverages. They’re more discrete, you can fit them easily in a purse or clutch, and you can tell if they’ve been opened or tampered with. If you want to party in style like the total badass you are, drink from a flask. (Bonus: if you happen to be dressing as a pirate, you’ll get bonus compliments on your attention to detail.)
4. Be resourceful.
Most sources do not recommend using weapons against aggressors, as there is always the chance that they will backfire and you will end up hurt instead. However, if you aren’t formally trained in self-defense (which most of us aren’t), using a weapon could in some circumstances save your life. Years ago, I read an article in a teen magazine that recommended using house keys as a weapon in a situation that calls for self-defense. Even now, I keep my keys in my pocket when I’m walking home late at night, just in case.
5. Stay in touch.
Make sure at least someone who will be sober that night knows what your plans are. You aren’t a teenager anymore, so you shouldn’t be obligated to inform your mom when you decide to crash at a friend’s house, but it might feel assuring to at least notify your sister or roommate when you’re on our way home. That way, someone can check in with you if they don’t receive an update within a certain time frame.
Whether you follow these suggestions or not, sexual assault—and any other crime committed against you, for that matter!—is never your fault. You can take every precaution possible and still be victimized. Trying to avoid predators shouldn’t be your first concern on Halloween, but it never hurts to take some simple steps to make yourself feel as safe as possible. After all, the safer you feel, the more fun you can have—which is ultimately what your night should be about.