In Defense of Women

"Use every dirty trick you can think of," said Portland, Ore., Police Lieutenant James E. Harvey to some 80 housewives, career girls and students. "Scratch his eyes out. Bring the heel of your hand up under his nose and break it. Smash him in the larynx and he'll have difficulty breathing. Tromp on his instep, that's always very good. And use your knee as hard as you can in the groin. You'll drop him to the ground --and he'll be a very sick fellow."

With a rising crime rate (the FBI reports forcible rape up 7%), and U.S. women arming themselves with gas pellets, cattle prods, sirens and penknives, Portland police decided such implements were useless without rudimentary training in self-defense. Moreover, once instructed a woman could actually protect herself with no more than the normal contents of her purse. Portland Police Academy Captain William Taylor announced a free training course for women, expected about 50 candidates, found himself swamped with 500 applications in two days.

The first class, ranging in age from 18 to 65, proved a bit shy and embarrassed at charts and commando tactics until Harvey reminded them why they were there. "The first rule is to keep your head. You have to determine quickly your attacker's capability, motive and state of mind, and estimate your chance of success," he said. "If you miscalculate you may not have a second chance."

Thus encouraged, the girls soon learned to let fly with accuracy and devastating effect. Although she is only 5 ft. 3 in., County Welfare Worker Lynda Holmes, 20, was able to send a hulking, karate-trained police officer flat on his back, then went through the motions of slamming a hard-cover book right at his Adam's apple.

As she and the others discovered, a woman's handbag is an all-purpose arsenal. Nail files and umbrella handles are good for gouging, hairbrush handles, ball-point pens and rolled-up magazines for general jabbing at vital areas. Hatpins* are oldfashioned, but very useful: "If you hold it by the top you can make holes in people." High heels and key rings are excellent for leaving marks: "Hold the key ring in your palm, make the keys extend through your fingers and scratch. We won't have any trouble identifying him."

* Rarely worn in hats by anyone under 70, hatpins are still in circulation, are used in corsages, pincushions and party decorations.

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