A friend and I were discussing assaults, both sexual and otherwise,

[EdmondDantes_]

31. My point is I don't think simply giving women tools is enough

Sure you could live in women only housing and never leave or let a man in. You could wear a chastity belt or the anti rape condom. But unless every woman does this, you aren't fixing the problem and you're fundamentally only shifting the odds onto someone else.

Likewise having a rape whistle or pepper spray is great, but the majority of attacks are from people known to the victim. Are you carrying your pepper spray in hand while walking with a male friend? What about with a partner?

On the other hand this ad campaign cut the incidents of rape. That suggests it's not mythical for men to be better.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/dont-be-that-guy-ad-campaign-cuts-vancouver-sex-assaults-by-10-per-cent-in-2011/article1359241/

And that research shows men are way more likely to say they would commit rape if you didn't use the word rape that suggests education about what rape is would be effective.

https://www.salon.com/2015/01/15/the_ugly_truth_about_sexual_assault_more_men_admit_to_it_if_you_dont_call_it_rape/

I get the appeal of short term things, but it's a case of the most effective short term tools women can use, aren't effective in the most likely times to need them.