Which shoulder do you carry your purse on? Why it matters...

If you’re right handed – carry your purse in your left hand or on your left shoulder. 

You may need that dominant hand to fend off an attacker. Gabrielle Rubin, founder of the Female Awareness self-defense course has some other important tips that every woman should think about:

1. Stay off the phone. It may feel safer to call someone on your way home, but resist the urge. Talking on the phone leaves you distracted, without peripheral vision and with only one hand free in case of an attack. 

2. Keep your bag on your less dominant shoulder. You don’t need your strong arm to grip your purse—you need it to fight off your attacker. 

3. Don’t advertise your purchases. Fancy bags, jewelry and accessories can attract the wrong kind of attention. The same goes for shopping bags. 

4. Learn how to exude confidence. Treat the sidewalk like your own personal runway. Keep your head high and your posture straight, have a good pace in your walk—owning it on the street says to an attacker that you're not someone to best messed with.

5. Use your "lion's roar." Your voice is your best weapon. If your voice has some intensity, volume, and attitude, you can use it before an attacker lays a finger on you, and it gets others involved in your defense.