Violence against women in Mexico has led thousands of them to carry personal defense kits, even though these items are illegal in a country where at least 10 feminicides are committed every day, not to mention other types of violence such as rapes, kidnappings, disappearances, and attacks. The most popular personal defense products are pepper spray keychains, alarms, whistles, cat paw (boxers), or key-shaped knives, as well as tasers disguised as lipstick.
These products are sold on Facebook Marketplace, Mercado Libre, and Amazon, through social media, as well as in bazaars, shopping malls, and local stores, where prices start at 300 pesos and up. Despite the popularity of these personal defense items, it is necessary to consider the dangers that come with using these devices, as well as to educate and train oneself in their use before purchasing one.
Figures from the latest National Urban Security Survey (ENSU) highlight that 67.8 percent of women feel unsafe living in their city. "In December 2024, 75.5% of women expressed feeling unsafe at ATMs located in public places and 67.7% in public transportation," emphasized INEGI in the presentation of the survey results on security.
What personal defense tools could be useful for women? Learning about the use of items such as pepper spray can be an act of legitimate defense in a risky situation. "It shows and feels because the majority of people coming to the academy have already been through violent events; if they seek to learn self-defense, it is better to approach professionals who can guide them better than on social media where people risk learning incorrectly," she points out.
According to the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) and its Federal Registry of Firearms and Control of Explosives, the carrying and use of tasers and pepper spray is prohibited, as they are exclusive to law enforcement. Moreover, the Federal Penal Code indicates possible aggravating factors in cases of injuries or homicides due to the use of knives, a category that includes tasers and pepper spray; however, it is not specified as such within the legislation. The use of cat paw (boxers) or key-shaped knives is also illegal, as they are considered weapons. With current legislation, alarms or whistles are legal, as they are not considered weapons.
In light of the wave of violence against women, it is important to clarify that the concept of legitimate defense is the right of a person to repel a current and imminent aggression, using means that are rational and proportional to the threat being faced. Self-defense should be understood as a set of tools that help women to gain control in cases of street violence.
According to Elías Yarhi, an expert in personal defense and security training at LAS Academy Mexico, pepper spray is one of the best personal defense options; however, its use is not backed by law in Mexico. "They must know how to use pepper spray, know how to react quickly, and the same goes for tasers, which are good to paralyze the aggressor; however, one must be very close to stop the attacker, but neither of the two (items) is allowed," he emphasized. The expert does not recommend the use of defense weapons without proper instruction from professionals. "The insecurity situation in Mexico is not the best."
