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Anna Kendrick’s directing debut and true crime storytelling at the same dang time?

Netflix didn’t give me much of an option on IF I was going to watch Woman of the Hour, it was only a matter of WHEN.

And the answer to that question was last Friday night. 

I pressed play with the intention of mostly scrolling on my little screen while my bigger screen hosted the movie in the background.

I wasn’t planning on needing to watch very closely, much less did I expect to be sweating and maintaining a Zone 2 cardio heart rate for the full 90 minute runtime, but it happened quickly.

A brilliantly terrifying film, telling the true story of a woman’s close encounter with a serial killer in a way that made my stomach physically hurt… 

Woman of the Hour is less of a thriller for thrills sake, and more of an unnerving and real recount of male violence towards women in the 1970s and 80s. 

THAT parking lot scene tapped into the terror that cheesy slasher films only think they’re achieving. 

The only spoiler you’ll find here is that I absolutely loved AND hated the film. If a good film is one that makes you think about it long after the credits have run, then Woman of the Hour is a great film.

As women, it’s always the right time to be well-equipped should we find ourselves in the wrong place.

Girls Who Fight is a program in Highland Village, Texas that equips girls, teens, and women with the combat skills, street smarts, and confidence they need to become their most effective protector. 

Here are 5 safety strategies for women from Gemma Sheehan, founder and head coach at Girls Who Fight*:

*not sponsored, I just believe deeply in the cause and love the work that Gemma is doing at GWF.

#1. Awareness of Surroundings 

Awareness is as simple as it is powerful. It deters criminals, lets you detect threats ahead of time and gives your intuition the information it needs to protect you. An alert person is more difficult to attack than a distracted person and therefore less likely to be selected for crime.

A woman’s eyes, ears, and intuition have been perfected over centuries for the sole purpose of keeping you alive. They are highly effective survival tools- never allow them to be shut down in public.

#2. Trust Your Instincts

Many women who were attacked say they had a bad feeling beforehand but ignored it. In order to not appear rude or paranoid we so often interrogate and deny our own survival instincts. But that gut feeling that something isn't right is the most important warning sign that you are not safe. Instincts work faster than intellect when it comes to your safety and require no further validation. 

Always listen to your gut feeling about a person, place or situation. If it means you’re the “paranoid” friend in the group, wear it as a badge of honor. Everyone’s laughing till they aren’t. 

#3. Present Yourself Confidently

Studies show that predators judge vulnerability by observing how people walk. Someone who walks confidently with their shoulders back and head up and moves swiftly with purpose is perceived to be likely and capable of standing up for themselves. Someone who hangs their head, avoids eye contact, and walks with a sense of defeat is perceived to be unlikely to put up a fight. Confident body language is what tells a predator within a seconds glance that you are not an easy target. 

"Given the same amount of intelligence, timidity will do a thousand times more damage than audacity.” -Carl Von Clausewitz

#4. Say No and Mean It

Predators use conversation in passing to 'interview' and see if you could be an easy target. When someone speaks to you, speak with confidence and firmness. Make eye contact and say no to anything that you do not want to do or to anything that would put you in danger, like getting close to someones car or going in their house. 

No is a complete sentence requiring no explanation or negotiation. The ability to say no and mean it is as fundamental as self defense gets.

#5. Be The Threat

Once a physical attack is predicted delay it as long as you can by running, keeping your distance, or forcing the offender around physical obstacles. Their window of opportunity is small and vanishes with each passing second. 

Should they attack, you fight back with as much aggression as you can. Your goal isn't to win the fight but to create an opening for escape. When you have enough space to turn your back, run. Never forget how much of a threat you are to the attacker and show them that from the first moment.

"One need not destroy his enemy, one need only destroy his willingness to engage.” - Sun Tzu

🥊 Read 5 additional safety strategies from Gemma HERE.

I’ve also personally subscribed to Girls Who Fight’s free monthly newsletter and now a man can’t tell me anything. 

I KNOW a perp gonna hate to see a Salesgirl coming.

Text me when you get home!

Xo, The Salesgirls