At first, Keaton Belle’s TikTok seems innocuous as she unzips a pink Dior purse under the heading “whats in ur bag.” Then she reveals the arsenal inside—pepper spray, a set of throwing knives, brass knuckles, a switchblade, and a pocket axe.  In the video’s caption, the 21-year-old proclaims, “I keep all this on me at all timez.”

 For women, especially those who live in cities, carrying some form of protection is all but expected.  Videos like Belle’s illustrate an increasingly mainstream trend: women stepping up their self-defense game from the ubiquitous pepper-spray keychain to more heavy-duty weaponry.

 Erika Hernandez*, a 19-year-old student from Los Angeles, rarely leaves home without her hatchet and knives loaded into her backpack.  They were gifts from family members who knew they’d be up Enriquez’s alley.

 “I’d originally asked for a sword—specifically a katana.  I love anything that can help me protect myself and others. They look cool and just make me feel safe—it’s a comfort for me,” she explains.

 Valerie Simmons* began carrying a stun gun her first year of college. Her father, who shoots recreationally, bought it at a gun show and put it in her Christmas stocking.

 “So, it’s hardcore, it’s not like those little plastic stun guns you can get at a gas station.  When I turn it on it sounds like a BB gun. I think the noise alone would scare someone off,” she says.

 Simmons, a 22-year-old college student living in the Boston area, would often carry the stun gun with her when she knew she would be walking at night.

 “I’ve never actually used it on someone, but I’ve had my hands on it,” states Simmons.

She was subletting from a friend in Allston when a man moved into the basement level of the building. He would peek through her curtains, bang on her door screaming late at night, and was rumored to have broken into the apartment across from hers. One night, he stood outside her window and began shouting profanities and threats.

 “I was up all night with my stun gun in one hand and a knife in the other, sitting straight up in bed,” Simmons recalls. “I could see him pacing outside the window. But I was like, if he came in, there’s no way he could fight me if I had this. It straight-up shoots electricity, and it’s technically a firearm.”

 Simmons’ weapon of choice looks like a hot pink flashlight, with spikes at the top where the electrical current runs. The recent uptick in brands specializing in self-defense tools marketed towards women is indicative of a larger trend of women gravitating towards more hands-on methods of self-defense.  

 “I think people who are going after women are probably going to anticipate them having pepper spray at this point,” Simmons says.  I’m also tiny, and if there’s a big guy, there are certain things that just aren’t really going to do anything.  I just felt like I needed something they wouldn’t expect.” 

Female-focused self-defense brands with names like “Defense Divas” and “Style Me Tactical” sell weapons in shades of pink, cat-shaped keychains that double as two-fingered brass knuckles, and blades hidden in pieces of jewelry.  “TigerLady” specializes in a discreet, hand-held set of retractable “claws” that are specifically designed to collect an attacker’s DNA.

Defense Divas’ mission statement is to “educate and empower women to embrace their personal power to be aware of their surroundings and protect themselves from violent crimes and domestic abuse.” This is certainly a noble goal, but even as viral self-defense tips and tools become more widespread, none of these solutions address the underlying problem: even when women adhere to “guidelines,” they are still targeted.

Worldwide, 1 in 3 women have experienced sexual or physical violence.  A recent survey from Runner’s World found that 84% of women have experienced some form of harassment while running that made them feel unsafe.   Even in the face of these sobering statistics, the burden of preventing attacks is placed on women rather than perpetrators.

In most states, this strain is worsened by legal restrictions. Until 2019, it was illegal to possess a stun gun or taser in Massachusetts.  Now, it’s legal only with a license to carry, the same as you would get if you wanted to register a firearm.

Simmons’ stun gun isn’t licensed—she wasn’t aware of the requirement until recently, and says the cost of getting a license and enrolling in safety courses has kept her from going legit.  

“The majority of the people who are carrying these are women, so while I think a safety course and a background check is reasonable, it shouldn’t be necessary to have to pay $300 and sit through a bunch of expensive safety courses just to shock someone. I also think they should be moved to a different class than guns, because I am not the same as someone who’s trying to acquire a handgun. I just want to feel safe,” says Simmons.

In Massachusetts, you have the right to defend yourself if you are attacked or believe your physical safety is in immediate danger, but only after taking “reasonable steps” to avoid physical contact. There’s also a laundry list of weapons that are considered dangerous and are illegal to carry, which includes brass knuckles and most knives.

Still, these weapons aren’t technically illegal to sell and buy, so much of their legality is a matter of circumstance. And, while the typical contents of Enriquez’s bag may not be entirely above-board, she knows how to use her weapons safely and effectively.

“I fully encourage women to protect themselves and have those safety measures available to them,” says Enriquez.  “The world is so dangerous, and you shouldn’t care about how people are going to perceive you or if they’ll think you’re being overdramatic.  At the end of the day, if something does happen, you’re going to be thankful you have that protection and the ability to fight back.”

*Names have been changed to protect privacy