iPhone app iPad app Android phone app Android tablet app More

Most Dangerous Cities For Women: The Top 10

The Huffington Post  |  By Posted: 04/26/2012 6:02 pm Updated: 04/27/2012 12:11 pm

Most Dangerous Cities For Women

In only the first four months of 2012, almost 300 rapes and four serial rapists have been reported in Detroit, and a 2011 survey found 37 percent of women in Alaska reported being the victim of sexual assault at some point in their lives.

On Thursday, Forbes released one of their most harrowing rankings of the year: the 10 most dangerous cities for women. The magazine ranked metro areas based on where women are most at risk for becoming victims of both violent crimes and sexual assaults, primarily drawing upon data from the the FBI Uniform Crime Report.

Analyzing the FBI's data on rape can be particularly difficult as they only count cases of "forcible rape," which excludes date rape, statutory rape, and sexual assault, and, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, 54 percent of sexual assaults are never reported to authorities. This issue is compounded by some localized policies that require women to pay for their own rape kits, a step necessary in filing a charge against a sexual assailant.

For further information about reporting rape, visit the RAINN website or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

UPDATE: Forbes has identified discrepancies between census data and the FBI population data used to determine the rankings of Saginaw, Mich., and Fairbanks, Alaska. We will update these numbers when Forbes resolves the matter.

Check out which 10 cities made the list:
Launch Slideshow
 HIDE THUMBNAILS
1 of 11
PLAY ALL
ADVERTISEMENT
FOLLOW CRIME

In only the first four months of 2012, almost 300 rapes and four serial rapists have been reported in Detroit, and a 2011 survey found 37 percent of women in Alaska reported being the victim of sexual...
In only the first four months of 2012, almost 300 rapes and four serial rapists have been reported in Detroit, and a 2011 survey found 37 percent of women in Alaska reported being the victim of sexual...
 
 
  • Comments
  • 473
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Post Comment Preview Comment
To reply to a Comment: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to.
View All
Favorites
Highlights
Recency  | 
Popularity
Page: 1 2 3 4 5  Next ›  Last »  (8 total)
06:01 PM on 04/28/2012
Will the last American leaving Michigan, please bring the flag. Thank you.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
joncie
08:22 PM on 04/28/2012
LOL.
05:55 PM on 04/28/2012
no surprise about Alaska considering Palin crusaded agaist rape victims rights as mayor of Wasila.
02:21 PM on 04/28/2012
Gee under the brilliant and bold leadership of Palin they seem to have made meagar progress for the citizens safety on the streets and in their homes.
04:55 PM on 04/28/2012
The population numbers are all wrong. Something is wrong with this survey. Anchorage has about 300,000 people and Fairbanks only 50,000, in the metro areas.

You can't believe everything you read!
12:25 PM on 05/25/2012
Do you mean meager?
If you are going to criticize, please learn how to spell.
Stop worrying about her, she is doing find.
On the other hand what should I expect from a "pig."
photo
Sonja Dawn
Hearing is not the same as listening.
12:14 AM on 09/23/2012
Do you mean 'fine'? Hehehe
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
rewith85man
Expressing Who I Am
02:32 AM on 04/28/2012
Honestly, no one can totally be safe wherever he/she is.

People just have to use their head, follow their instincts, and stay away from suspicious people.
09:38 AM on 04/28/2012
Please don't take this the wrong way, but... are you wearing an orange jumpsuit in that avatar?
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
John Hazelton Smith
Don't get caught...
11:17 PM on 04/27/2012
Just glad Chicago didn't make the list this time. :-)
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
rewith85man
Expressing Who I Am
02:30 AM on 04/28/2012
It does not mean that it is entirely safe.
03:13 PM on 04/28/2012
That is true. Ask the girls who were beat with a baseball bat by some crazies, after clubbing one night. One girl ended up severely disabled. I love Chgo, but you have to be careful wherever you are.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Tony Twohill
03:49 PM on 04/28/2012
Surprised by Springfield though.
11:00 PM on 04/27/2012
Side note. That picture of downtown Flint has to be over 25 years old. Surely some more recent pictures are available. BTW, I love Flint. We just make up those crime statistics to keep everyone else from wanting to move here.
09:39 PM on 04/27/2012
"#3: Fairbanks, Alaska. Alaska's second largest city... Population: 208,388."
"#2: Anchorage, Alaska. Alaska's biggest city is home to 40 percent of the state's population... Population: 93,000."
It's almost funny.. 'haha' - except that we are talking about a report on rape.
Suggestion to the editors: Proofread your articles.
04:57 PM on 04/28/2012
Yeah, who checks this stuff? I'm surprised it is still up, there is no one to email to tell them how screwed up this survey is.
06:29 PM on 04/27/2012
The population numbers are definitely wrong. They nearly doubled the actual population of Redding, CA, which stands at less than 100,000.

Part of this high number of predators is due to repeat registered offenders who relocate to our area due to the metropolis statutes of southern California having higher residency restrictions. Plus, big city power and money talks.

Unfortunately, our Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) funds and federal grants have dwindled.

SoCal... we want our water back.
02:22 PM on 04/28/2012
Fed funds dwindled for rape kits?
04:59 PM on 04/28/2012
Yes, the comments show many people noting that the populations for cities are all wrong, not just mixed up but completely wrong. Both Alaska cities are WAY OFF. With something this serious, it should be corrected or taken down.
03:01 PM on 04/27/2012
THIS IS A CLASSIC CASE OF "DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ!"

The data for this study is all wrong. The population for many of the cities is incorrect. A simple search would give you the correct information.
02:27 PM on 04/27/2012
Fairbanks has NO where near 208,000+ in the area, closer to 80,000 and Anchorage has NO where near 93,000 in the area, closer to 300,000. Serious problems with this data! Either way, where ever you live, be prepared, be aware, be careful!
03:03 PM on 04/27/2012
YES! Totally wrong population #'s, I can't believe they just post other articles and don't even check the simplest information for them!
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
icwhite02
Keep giving them all the rope they need
06:04 PM on 04/27/2012
"UPDATE: Forbes has identified discrepancies between census data and the FBI population data used to determine the rankings of Saginaw, Mich., and Fairbanks, Alaska. We will update these numbers when Forbes resolves the matter."

They posted that. You're the one who didn't read all the way to the end.
09:49 PM on 04/27/2012
The following research is why I question this story, its sources of information and method of determining ranking. Numbers I researched are from the published 2010 Census Bureau data. Only a few of the cities ranked in this report saw increases in population from 2000 to 2010, most saw a decrease:

Most current PUBLISHED census data from 2010 report vs. Huffington reported population:

10. Memphis Tennessee: 927,644 – reported as 1,305,946 on Huffington report
9. Battle Creek, Michigan 52,347 – reported as 136,146 on Huffington report
8. Lawton, Oklahoma 96,867 – reported as 124,089 on Huffington report
7. Pine Bluff, Arkansas 49,083 – reported as 107,341 on Huffington report
6. Flint, Michigan 102,434 - reported as 201,596 on Huffington report
5. Redding, California 89,861 – reported as 93,000 on Huffington report – the ONLY one “close” to likely 2012 census data
4. Springfield, Illinois 116,250 – reported as 693,388 on Huffington report
3. Fairbanks, Alaska 31,535 – reported as 208,388 on Huffington report
2. Anchorage, Alaska 291,826 – reported as 93,000 on Huffington report
1. Saginaw, Michigan 51,508 – reported as 397,398 on Huffington report
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
rich3324
Likes: Chasing villagers. Dislikes: Fire
07:37 PM on 04/28/2012
Sounds like Forbes screwed up and HP just followed along.
01:59 PM on 04/27/2012
No surprise about Memphis. I grew up here and I am not scared which i probably a problem. We look straight head when we travel into the city. A person can get shot just for looking at another. Yes, this is true. We all carry guns. Sad but true.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
gemini68
01:40 PM on 04/27/2012
This issue is compounded by some localized policies that require women to pay for their own rape kits, a step necessary in filing a charge against a sexual assailant.

Paying for your own rape kit?! HP please post a list of backwards towns/cities that are doing this!
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Goldie Treasure
Biracial.25.Sarcastic.Mod>Rep=Dem
01:23 PM on 04/27/2012
What's the deal with Fairbanks?
01:04 PM on 04/27/2012
So, I guess a city is dangerous for a woman only if she stands to get raped but murder and or dismembering is unimportant and does not count?
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
icwhite02
Keep giving them all the rope they need
06:05 PM on 04/27/2012
One crime at a time, please, they can only report so much.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
01:04 PM on 04/27/2012
NY should be on this list. The rapes the cops are committing and getting away with is astounding.