Get Home Safe – Rana Abdelhamid

You’re not playing small. It’s the self-defense version of a mic drop: no extra words, no apologies, just truth, volume, and boundaries delivered with clarity and control. Verbal force might sound like: “Back off. I said no.” “Step away from me.” “I don’t know you. Leave me alone.” “Stop touching me.” Verbal force is especially useful when… You’re in a public or semipublic space where others can witness or help. Someone is pushing past your verbal boundaries. You need to interrupt escalating behavior or buy time to exit.

You’ve already tried deescalation and it didn’t work. Verbal force is not helpful when… The person has a weapon and you’re isolated. You’re physically restrained or cornered with no safe exit. You’re in a coercive, long-term abusive situation. Your body is in a freeze response and speech isn’t accessible.

One of the most effective verbal force tools is what I call “name-and- claim.” This tactic is all about being specific. You name exactly what is happening, who is doing it, and what you need, and you say it out loud, clearly, and without hesitation. The goal is twofold: first, to make the aggressor visible and accountable, and second, to activate bystanders who may be unsure or frozen.

When people hear something specific, like what behavior is happening and who it’s coming from, they’re far more likely to step in. Here’s what name-and-claim sounds like in action. Let’s say you’re on the subway and someone touches you inappropriately. Instead of just saying “Can you please stop,” which could be brushed off or ignored, you say, “Person in the red shirt, get your hand off me.

I do not know you.” Then you shift to others around you: “Person in the pink shirt, can you help me? I need help now.” You’ve just done three things: named the harm, claimed your right to safety, and pulled someone into a position of support. This tactic is especially useful in public or semipublic places, such as a bus, a sidewalk, or a party, where there are people around but the social dynamics might still keep them silent.

Name-and-claim cuts through that silence.

A Note to Readers: This book discusses experiences of violence, including assault and harassment. Please honor your emotional needs with care and presence, take breaks when necessary, and reach out for support if anything feels overwhelming. Names and identifying details have been changed. Characters are composites. Dialogue has been reconstructed from memory. Any similarity to actual persons is coincidental. Copyright © 2026 by Rana Abdelhamid Cover art and design by June Park Cover art (fist) based on Getty Images Cover copyright © 2026 Hachette Book Group, Inc.

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Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill / Little, Brown and Company Hachette Book Group 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104 algonquinbooks.com First ebook edition: February 2026 Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill is an imprint of Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

The Algonquin Books name and logo are trademarks of Hachette Book Group, Inc. The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher. The Hachette Speakers Bureau provides a wide range of authors for speaking events. To find out more, go to hachettespeakersbureau.com or email [email protected]. Little, Brown and Company books may be purchased in bulk for business, educational, or promotional use.

For information, please contact your local bookseller or the Hachette Book Group Special Markets Department at [email protected]. Illustrations © Areeba Siddique ISBN 9781643757063 LCCN 2025943328 E3-20260116-JV-NF-ORI OceanofPDF.com Contents Cover Title Page Copyright Dedication Introduction RULE #1: Start with Healing RULE #2: Defend Yourself RULE #3: Stay Sharp RULE #4: Deescalate with Your Voice and Body RULE #5: Strike Back (Only If You Need To) RULE #6: Expect the Unexpected RULE #7: Secure the Bag, Secure Your Safety RULE #8: Build a Safer World Together CONCLUSION: The Fight for Safety Is Bigger Than a Fist Acknowledgments Discover More Notes About the Author Praise for Get Home Safe OceanofPDF.com To my parents, Mona and Abdelrazek, who have forever been my safe space OceanofPDF.com Explore book giveaways, sneak peeks, deals, and more.

Tap here to learn more. OceanofPDF.com Introduction Let me know when you get home. If you’re reading this and you’re a woman, you’ve probably said or heard these words.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

Book Information

• Unique ID: 2c8d4b6dd834a30d
• File Extension: .pdf
• File Size: 7,187,081 bytes (6.854 MB)
• Title: –
• Author: Unknown
• ISBN: 9781643757063
• Pages: 222
• Language: English (en)

Reading & Word Statistics

• Estimated Reading Time: 354.82 minutes
• Total Words: 70,964
• Total Characters: 415,487
• Average Words per Page: 319.66
• Average Characters per Page: 1871.56

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