A woman in Japan recently shared her harrowing experience of being followed by a stranger and offered crucial safety advice for single women living alone. The convenience store worker took to X to highlight how seemingly innocent actions, like buying a single serving of ice cream at night, can inadvertently reveal personal details to potential criminals.
She pointed out that purchasing a single portion of ice cream at night suggests that your home is likely within walking distance, as the ice cream would otherwise melt before you got there. Additionally, the single serving size implies that you are probably living alone. To mitigate this risk, she advised single women to wait until daytime to buy ice cream and to opt for a larger-sized tub instead.
The woman also listed other items that single women should avoid buying to protect their safety, including instant meals for one and curtains with “cute” patterns. She emphasized the importance of thinking from a criminal’s perspective to prevent crime.
While some online observers questioned whether she was being overly cautious, she countered by stressing that dangerous situations often stem from seemingly trivial actions. “You might think you’re being too cautious, but when it comes to your safety, you can never be too careful. It’s better to be safe than to become a victim,” she said. She hopes more people become aware of the importance of crime prevention and take steps to protect their safety.
Crimes such as rape and robbery are common threats faced by women. In Japan, a 2018 survey by the National Police Agency revealed that 90 percent of female victims were attacked when they were alone. Similarly, in China, safety concerns for single women are alarming. A report by China’s top court in April indicated that crimes against women and children have been increasing in recent years. In 94 recent cases of harm to individuals living alone, 53 percent of the victims were women.
In one notable incident in August 2019, a young woman living alone in Jiangsu province returned home to find a man hiding under her bed. He fled but returned the next day with an apology letter and was subsequently arrested. It was discovered that he was a house cleaner who had memorized the apartment’s lock code.
Common safety tips for single women shared on mainland social media include installing cameras and alarms at the door, asking for two pairs of chopsticks when ordering takeaway, and placing a pair of men’s slippers on the shoe rack by the door. Learning self-defense techniques is also advised. “I’ve been living alone in Shanghai for almost five years, and what makes me feel safe is that I’ve been learning boxing since I was a child,” one online observer wrote on Xiaohongshu. Others suggested having a dog as a deterrent to strangers.
“Single girls should always be on guard because bad people can be anywhere and can appear at any time,” another commenter emphasized.
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