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The Badass Girl's Guide: Uncommon Strategies to Outwit Predators
The Badass Girl's Guide: Uncommon Strategies to Outwit Predators is the one book criminal predators don't want you to read! Filled with critical information about how to empower yourself to keep from becoming a crime statistic, this definitive, comprehensive guide contains facts and strategies not found in other personal security books.
This remarkable, edgy book reveals how predators select and groom their victims, and teaches women and girls how to "fail" the predator interview to avoid being targeted in the first place. It also provides clear instructions about how to use your personal bodily "weapons" to defend yourself in a confrontation, offering everything you need to know to stay safe, fight if you must, and navigate the criminal justice system if the worst happens.
This book leaves women and girls feeling more inspired, motivated, powerful, and confident about their ability to take care of themselves.
If you read just one book on personal safety and self-defense in your lifetime, The Badass Girl's Guide: Uncommon Strategies to Outwit Predators is the one for you!
The News is Alarming, But You Have More Power Than You Think!
If you watch the evening news, it can seem as if the world is being overrun by violence. And if you’re a woman or girl, you likely have already been victimized in some way or are vulnerable to criminal predators—at home, in the workplace and even in public areas.
Women and girls are generally raised to be nice to everyone. They’re taught to avoid being rude at all cost. To smile through awkward situations. To giggle when they feel uncomfortable rather than risk embarrassing someone who is just “playing” with them. To expect men to be their rescuers if they’re in danger.
How many times in your life have you ignored the blaring sirens from your intuition when someone was violating your boundaries? Or worried as the creepy guy from your dorm followed you to class? Or suffered through regular sexual harassment at work?
It’s a strange paradox—we spend so much of our lives being hyper-vigilant about potential danger, but become utterly helpless when we’re confronted with uncomfortable and even dangerous situations. We smile when someone pays us an inappropriate compliment at work. We roll our eyes when a man makes a crude joke or gesture. We stiffen but don’t necessarily move when someone brushes up against us.
Making “Nice” is Hurting You
Why? Why do we “make nice” when we’re treated with disrespect? Our instincts are correct, but we override them because our early training was so strong. Part of the reason is fear—that the situation will escalate if we object, that we’ll embarrass the other person or ourselves, or that the person we confront won’t like/love/employ us anymore. We’re also often clueless about how to respond. Then there’s the pervasive, personally-held belief that we can’t take care of ourselves, so we demure rather than react.
We feel helpless, which leads to a sense of hopelessness and powerlessness. Denial is also a huge factor; we deny what’s happening to us in favor of making excuses for the perpetrator: “He was just kidding.” “I’m just being overly sensitive.” “He didn’t mean it.” Or the ever popular, “Boys will be boys.” This unfortunate perspective lets predators off the hook when they behave badly.
It’s Time to Take Your Power Back!
If you’re tired of feeling afraid, of loathing and blaming yourself, of feeling too vulnerable, then take YOUR power back right now.
This remarkable, edgy book reveals how predators select and groom their victims, and teaches women and girls how to "fail" the predator interview to avoid being targeted in the first place. It also provides clear instructions about how to use your personal bodily "weapons" to defend yourself in a confrontation, offering everything you need to know to stay safe, fight if you must, and navigate the criminal justice system if the worst happens.
This book leaves women and girls feeling more inspired, motivated, powerful, and confident about their ability to take care of themselves.
If you read just one book on personal safety and self-defense in your lifetime, The Badass Girl's Guide: Uncommon Strategies to Outwit Predators is the one for you!
The News is Alarming, But You Have More Power Than You Think!
If you watch the evening news, it can seem as if the world is being overrun by violence. And if you’re a woman or girl, you likely have already been victimized in some way or are vulnerable to criminal predators—at home, in the workplace and even in public areas.
Women and girls are generally raised to be nice to everyone. They’re taught to avoid being rude at all cost. To smile through awkward situations. To giggle when they feel uncomfortable rather than risk embarrassing someone who is just “playing” with them. To expect men to be their rescuers if they’re in danger.
How many times in your life have you ignored the blaring sirens from your intuition when someone was violating your boundaries? Or worried as the creepy guy from your dorm followed you to class? Or suffered through regular sexual harassment at work?
It’s a strange paradox—we spend so much of our lives being hyper-vigilant about potential danger, but become utterly helpless when we’re confronted with uncomfortable and even dangerous situations. We smile when someone pays us an inappropriate compliment at work. We roll our eyes when a man makes a crude joke or gesture. We stiffen but don’t necessarily move when someone brushes up against us.
Making “Nice” is Hurting You
Why? Why do we “make nice” when we’re treated with disrespect? Our instincts are correct, but we override them because our early training was so strong. Part of the reason is fear—that the situation will escalate if we object, that we’ll embarrass the other person or ourselves, or that the person we confront won’t like/love/employ us anymore. We’re also often clueless about how to respond. Then there’s the pervasive, personally-held belief that we can’t take care of ourselves, so we demure rather than react.
We feel helpless, which leads to a sense of hopelessness and powerlessness. Denial is also a huge factor; we deny what’s happening to us in favor of making excuses for the perpetrator: “He was just kidding.” “I’m just being overly sensitive.” “He didn’t mean it.” Or the ever popular, “Boys will be boys.” This unfortunate perspective lets predators off the hook when they behave badly.
It’s Time to Take Your Power Back!
If you’re tired of feeling afraid, of loathing and blaming yourself, of feeling too vulnerable, then take YOUR power back right now.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 18, 2017
19 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Scarlet
9 books21 followersCJ Scarlet is a danger expert, victim advocate, and crime survivor herself. She’s also the doting grandma of three precocious kids.
Scarlet has helped thousands of crime victims, but when confronted with the simple innocence of her grandchildren, she felt utterly helpless. How to protect them? More importantly, how to teach them to protect themselves?
Badass Parenting: An Irreverent Guide to Raising Safe, Savvy, Confident Kids and Heroic Parenting (the PG-rated version of the same book) are Scarlet’s way of doing just that and, in the process, helping parents of kids 0 to 9 protect their loved ones too.
CJ 's next book, Raising Badass Kids: The Savvy Parents' Guide to Predator-Proofing Tweens & Teens, will be published on Nov. 15, 2023.
An expert in victims’ rights and advocacy, CJ has given speeches and workshops at national and international events; and has appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including MSNBC and NPR.
The former roller-skating carhop, forest firefighter, and US Marine photojournalist holds an interdisciplinary master’s degree in Humanities with an emphasis on human violence from Old Dominion University.
Named one of the “Happy 100” people on the planet, CJ’s story of triumph over adversity is featured in two bestselling books, including Happy for No Reason and Be Invincible.
Scarlet has helped thousands of crime victims, but when confronted with the simple innocence of her grandchildren, she felt utterly helpless. How to protect them? More importantly, how to teach them to protect themselves?
Badass Parenting: An Irreverent Guide to Raising Safe, Savvy, Confident Kids and Heroic Parenting (the PG-rated version of the same book) are Scarlet’s way of doing just that and, in the process, helping parents of kids 0 to 9 protect their loved ones too.
CJ 's next book, Raising Badass Kids: The Savvy Parents' Guide to Predator-Proofing Tweens & Teens, will be published on Nov. 15, 2023.
An expert in victims’ rights and advocacy, CJ has given speeches and workshops at national and international events; and has appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including MSNBC and NPR.
The former roller-skating carhop, forest firefighter, and US Marine photojournalist holds an interdisciplinary master’s degree in Humanities with an emphasis on human violence from Old Dominion University.
Named one of the “Happy 100” people on the planet, CJ’s story of triumph over adversity is featured in two bestselling books, including Happy for No Reason and Be Invincible.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 29, 2017
I think this book is a great book about empowerment. I enjoyed reading and learned a few things about protecting myself. I think anyone should read this book and see if you learn something new as well. It is never to late to learn more on protection. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*
May 13, 2019
The Badass Girl's Guide should be a staple in every home! While yes, many of us are familiar with certain maneuvers to prevent abduction or attacks, this book approaches it from a more realistic or practical standpoint. CJ implores you to be vigilant and to take back your power and voice which is something I personally so appreciate! She walks you through easy to follow tips, tricks, and steps to be a more confident and aware individual.
You'll learn things such as how to confront a potential attacker, outsmart or maneuver them, resources to assist you in case of attack, how to navigate through the oftentimes confusing judicial system, and most importantly how to learn to cope with the trauma.
The book is easy to follow, cohesive, and includes so many fantastic resources to learn more!
I 100% recommend this book to not just EVERY woman but to EVERY PERSON! It's so so so important to be as prepared as you can be in these sort of circumstances.
I received a free arc and have voluntarily left this review.
You'll learn things such as how to confront a potential attacker, outsmart or maneuver them, resources to assist you in case of attack, how to navigate through the oftentimes confusing judicial system, and most importantly how to learn to cope with the trauma.
The book is easy to follow, cohesive, and includes so many fantastic resources to learn more!
I 100% recommend this book to not just EVERY woman but to EVERY PERSON! It's so so so important to be as prepared as you can be in these sort of circumstances.
I received a free arc and have voluntarily left this review.
January 14, 2018
The Badass Girl’s Guide: Uncommon Strategies to Outwit Predators is a self-help book teaching the reader how to deal with uncomfortable situations such as out thinking and out playing a criminal predator. It covers ways to navigate the criminal justice system and how to deal with trauma, after being victimized.
The moment I began reading this book, it reminded me of the Cleveland Victims and how their predator had abducted them, keeping them trapped in his home over 10 years before one of them managed to escape, saving the rest.
I believe as a woman, or even as a human being, knowing what to do or not to do in certain hostile cases, it is very beneficial to have read this book. Of course, not every situation and circumstance can prepare you for what could happen but at least knowing the basics of certain aspects may actually save your life. For that reason, I believe this book was very useful and is much needed.
The literature was easy to understand, and the subject matters were divided into an organized format in order to make it easy to follow through. I particularly enjoyed the part where the author teaches you how to confront a predator. Sometimes, in such situations, the brain just freezes and knowing from all the interviews and books I have read on such victims, everything learned is quickly forgotten. Therefore, let’s hope that none of us have to go through this regardless of what we do know or wish to learn.
I recommend this book to people of all ages.
The moment I began reading this book, it reminded me of the Cleveland Victims and how their predator had abducted them, keeping them trapped in his home over 10 years before one of them managed to escape, saving the rest.
I believe as a woman, or even as a human being, knowing what to do or not to do in certain hostile cases, it is very beneficial to have read this book. Of course, not every situation and circumstance can prepare you for what could happen but at least knowing the basics of certain aspects may actually save your life. For that reason, I believe this book was very useful and is much needed.
The literature was easy to understand, and the subject matters were divided into an organized format in order to make it easy to follow through. I particularly enjoyed the part where the author teaches you how to confront a predator. Sometimes, in such situations, the brain just freezes and knowing from all the interviews and books I have read on such victims, everything learned is quickly forgotten. Therefore, let’s hope that none of us have to go through this regardless of what we do know or wish to learn.
I recommend this book to people of all ages.
September 14, 2018
Every woman and man should read this book. CJ uses her stories of abuse and harassment to educate her readers on how they can save themselves or prevent abusive situations from occurring. She does not feel sorry for herself, nor is her story the main theme, rather a way to give her credibility. She is real, honest, and very practical. I had the honor and pleasure of sitting down with her and was worried her book wouldn't live up to the person I met. I could not have been more wrong. CJ Scarlet is a powerhouse and force to be reckoned with.
June 28, 2019
Great insights and Resources
CJ Scarlet shares her story of victimhood and provides valuable guidance and steps for others to protect themselves from predators. She is a great resource to reach out to for assistance and more. I enjoyed interviewing her on The Empowered Whistleblower Podcast. ~ Dawn Westmoreland
CJ Scarlet shares her story of victimhood and provides valuable guidance and steps for others to protect themselves from predators. She is a great resource to reach out to for assistance and more. I enjoyed interviewing her on The Empowered Whistleblower Podcast. ~ Dawn Westmoreland
March 20, 2018
This one is going on my to-purchase list for use in future discussions.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews