In light of the Imette & Natalie Holloway cases

Do you think you will teach your daughters/neices/grandaughters/goddaughters anything different?

These are two women who became victims for putting themselves in dangerous situations (Natalie- left her friends to be with some guy and Imette stayed at a bar alone after her friends left). By no means do they deserve what happened to them. But it makes me worry about what I can do to prevent this from happening to the girls I love.

How, if, when do you think you will address these kinds of dangers with the girls in your life?

Re: In light of the Imette & Natalie Holloway cases

I had a long, blunt conversation about this stuff with my sister before she left for college.

I covered the basics:

-never accept drinks from anyone but the bartender

-never, ever go out alone

-always stay with your friends, dont let anyone go off alone


She has stuck to it so far. if there is anything i have left out, please add it.

Re: In light of the Imette & Natalie Holloway cases

I think every young girl should be taught these basics. Its not Rocket science. I learned them at a very young age, and still stick to them. I never go out alone to a bar, or a club.

Message edited 3/23/2006 3:52:13 PM.

Re: In light of the Imette & Natalie Holloway cases

Those are very good points Rebecca!

Re: In light of the Imette & Natalie Holloway cases

I don't think this changes what I would tell my possible future daughter or my nieces. I didn't leave friends in bars and tried my hardest not to let them get away from the group. My group of friends always had a DD, so there was always at least one sober person to watch out for everyone. I once confronted a HUGE football player in college who was harassing my friend, and got his friends involved to get him away from her.

Unfortunately, these events just reinforce points I would have already made. The sad thing is as time goes by and people forget, young women will likely make the same mistakes again

As much as I want to believe women should be free to do what they choose to, shouldn't be harassed when they are alone, and shouldn't be judged by what they wear, or the hours or the company they keep, the reality is that they can't always make the same choices as men and be safe.

Message edited 3/23/2006 3:52:38 PM.

Re: In light of the Imette & Natalie Holloway cases

Absolutely.

I think back to the end of HS and college and how many stupid, stupid situations I put myself in, thinking that nothing would ever happen.

Re: In light of the Imette & Natalie Holloway cases

My mom(who I blame for being negative) always would tell me to be careful w/ the men/guys I would meet. Not to be too friendly, not to accpet things from them. In the end in this day & age it's just so scary what women and what we in general are exposed to.

Re: In light of the Imette & Natalie Holloway cases

Posted by MrsProfessor

Absolutely.

I think back to the end of HS and college and how many stupid, stupid situations I put myself in, thinking that nothing would ever happen.

Re: In light of the Imette & Natalie Holloway cases

But in the same light how many of us met a guy in a bar, who bought us drinks *maybe* went home with him or atleast share a number maybe a date and ended up marrying him.
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My17 yo SIL got drugged at a club in Philly a few weeks ago. Most likely it was from guys who graduated from the same Catholic HS as her brothers (including my husband ) which was her resoning on why she took the drink even though she didn't know them, was underage, and well looking back now she said it was an uncomfortable situation. Luckily a bouncer noticed her behavior and her friend whom she got seperated from stayed around and found her and my inlaws were contacted.
The world is just a dangerous place and I really think sometimes it is just the luck of the draw. An Aunt in our family got raped by a repairman who came to her house, how many of us could have been in that situation as well.

I think your best bet is to keep an eye on and check in with friends. I know many strong women who have also become victims.

Heck posting pictures of your house, if your going on vaca, what you do for a living, children's activities you go too, cars you drive we are all putting ourselves in dangerous situations everyday no matter how much we try not too or even if you share very little.