If a man attempts rape what are good ways for women to defend themselves?

I'd say your number one defense would be to develop a mindset that is alert and self-aware, so that you have a good chance of not being taken completely by surprise.

Random example: In a deserted parking lot, park you car where you can walk toward it with a light directly behind you. You will see the shadow of anyone coming up behind you.

The SECOND you think something's about to happen, you scream and you run. Run right out of your shoes, if they're impractical. Run screaming blue murder toward the nearest people, and scream "Rape." It's great to have pepper spray or a taser, but don't fight until you have to.

Don't carry a weapon of any kind (even pepper spray) that you don't know how to use, because it will get taken away from you and then used on you, as likely as not. So know how to use any weapons you carry, and when you decide to use them, use them full out, and to the best of your ability. Great suggestions above about trying to kick the knee off alignment or come down on an ankle. Don't close with him, though. Attack and back off. Every step you get closer to help gives you a better chance, and every second you can keep him off you gives you a better chance.

If you have to - if he bears you down, do everything you can to keep your legs closed. Wrap your ankles together as you fall, and twist your hips aside. Keep twisting, making a motion like you're trying to knee someone with both knees, to keep your lower body out from under his if you can. Most men will be stronger than most women, but it's still his hands against your legs at that point, if you can keep him from getting a leg between yours, and the advantage is less.

If you're feeling numb and disbelieving, take a second to think "This is really happening. This man is trying to rape me." Let it sink in for a beat. THEN go nuts.

Do all of it. Don't go for the balls - other people have already said why, AND it's so expected. Keep your legs closed. Wrap them up. Use whatever's to hand to strike with, and don't be afraid to use your nails across his eyes. Strike at his temples and the sides or tip of his nose (if you aren't trained in how to punch, use the side or heel of your hand.) Strike at the front of his throat. Release your bladder and even your bowels if you can. Spit, snarl, and bite. Yank his hair, tear at his ears - use your nails, and whatever you can get a hold of. Never stop screaming "No" and "Rape, Help!" Always keep in mind that GETTING AWAY is the point. Be looking for your moment to break away.

No matter how tough you are, don't let yourself drop into a "fight" mentality until you have no choice. Always remember that "to win" doesn't mean beating the man in this circumstance. The stakes here are that he wants to hurt you. You win by not letting him. That's IT.

I know 90 lb women who have escaped rapists this way. By facing up the second it starts happening that this is life or death, and fighting accordingly, and never forgetting that victory is reaching safety.

I think all women should take a proper self-defense class at a very young age to learn how to be watchful, and how to defend herself if necessary. (This does not mean everyone should go learn karate. It's great for some women, but not for all.) Find a class that isn't glorified aerobics with white pajamas. Make sure you're picking someone who is very aware that every woman has different abilities, and is willing to consider yours and help you learn what will work for you. Also, make sure they have men in padded suits actually attacking you.

Just a handful of sessions like that can do an amazing amount for your ability to A) Keep your head in a crisis and B) Know how to throw all your strength behind something that will WORK.

I'm female and I think men should be able to arm themselves with the same methods of self defence as women do, (e.g. pepper spray). Not all men are stronger than all women, and whoever is the attacker, the other person is still a victim. Seriously, if I was going to rape a man (not something I would do by the way), I would at least expect some physical backlash. Any woman who attempts to rape someone, male or female, should expect the victim to use self defence methods. You just wouldn't try to rape a man without thinking he will retaliate.

As a law enforcement officer and a brother to a sister, I would say aim for vital areas. I strongly suggest not kicking in the groins cause there is a delayed response like one second or two bfore the entire feeling comes to a guy and then some are still not slowed down. Naturally men are faster than women and TO SOME stronger than most women. I would say kick on the inside or outside of a knee cap. If he can't run he cant chase you , at least not fast. also hit points like noses sides of the head like temples ears and throat. if you stomp on a guys ankle you can break it as the same if you kick hard enough to the knee to make it go backwords or to the side. You can get pepper spray, tazers and a gun but most rapes occur before a woman can get to those items in the world of her purse.

Pepper spray or if you got the cash invest in a tazer. My girl friend and older sister don.t leave home without it.

I don't know exactly, there are however more points that will debilitate the attacker long enough so you can get away. Go for the eyeballs, neck, whatever you can hit is good. Headbutting or hitting his nose with the heel of your palm is also good. Pinching, biting, whatever tou can to do to stop his offense is good. Don't hesitate, because he won't hesitate to knock you out, either, and after that it's over.

I suggest asking a martial artist or taking a few classes.

EDIT: Benino, punching is not for everyone, especially if they are not trained they are certain to harm themselves more than the other. And a woman kicking a guy's leg so hard that she'll break it? Good luck with that one. I remember fighting a guy when I was 11 and we both kept hitting the other's shin with a tennis racket. It really didn't deter me then, it's not gonna deter a grown up man either.

EDIT again: The point is not to kill him, it's to stop his attack. Killing should be your last resort(even if he is scum).

Instead of the fist, use the heel of the palm, the elbow or the knee. Much more efficient.

Depends on whether hes in front of you or behind you, punch him, kick him,knee him, get an hard object to hit him with,scream loudly for help, do everything in your power to stop him.

Personally, I would advise either to run or use some self-defense weapon, but if you don't have anything other than yourself and nowhere to go, I would assume retaliation would only make your case worse. Since rape isn't usually the cut-and-dry lonely woman walking down a dark alleyway, but a lot of times dealing with people you already know, this situation doesn't usually present itself. But your first thoughts should be run, or scream, because noise will frighten the assailant off if you are in a city persay.

I wouldn't listen to the ignorant people around here who say "Oh, kick him in dee bawlz!!" or "Gouge his eyes!!", if you want to keep your life try another tactic.

Try to poke him in the eyes wih byour fingers or keys if you have them, if you have a comb run it under his nose. Scream for help and fight as hard as you can untill hopefully they give up and run off.

-A punch to the solar plexus, the area between your ribs just below your sternum, will knock the wind out of your attacker.

-A kick to the front of the knees could break his leg.

-A punch in the nose will daze him.

-A punch to the side of the jaw will possibly break his jaw, and that will put a stop to his attack and buy you enough time to get far away.

-A punch to the temples will also daze.

------The above are non-lethal, except potentially the punch to the nose------

-Often a male attacker will be able to continue his attack after a hit to the groin - it doesn't daze, it just hurts. And boy will he be angry after that. It isn't really such a good idea.

Gouging his eyes will get you landed in jail alongside him. Don't do this.

Wasp spray (better than pepper stray), gouge eyes, scream fire (more people will respond than to rape)...

eye gouging, pepper spray,........................GUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it also really hurts to get punched in the nose or........i know this isnt " defense " but scream loud enough to get a guys atention