Author Meg Stone: The Cost of Fear
The Cost of Fear
- When it comes to avoiding violence, most women have gotten a lot of questionable advice, like “don’t wear a ponytail, an attacker could grab it” or “or “don’t go shopping alone.” The Cost of Fear exposes how sexist safety advice keeps us small - and offers a bold, evidence-based path to true personal and collective safety.
- At the intersection of feminism, public safety, and social change, The Cost of Fear empowers us with evidence-based tools to resist coercive control, reclaim our power, and join the fight for social justice - not by shrinking our lives, but by expanding our agency.
- For readers of Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez and Know My Name by Chanel Miller, this book is for anyone ready to question authority, dismantle fear-based advice, and demand a more just and realistic approach to safety.
The Cost of Fear; Book Blurbs
- Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, author of The Fact of a Body
“Meg Stone has written a powerful, accessible, and devastatingly acute analysis of the pervasiveness of gender-based violence and why our efforts to prevent it have failed, packed with expert insight drawn from her decades-long career and practical tips to empower women and others who are targeted. The Cost of Fear moved me, enraged me, and educated me. I don’t think I’ll ever stop thinking about it. I wish this book weren’t necessary. But until we live in a better world, get this book.”
- Lauren R. Taylor, author of Get Empowered and founder-director of Defend Yourself documents...
“In The Cost of Fear, Meg Stone weaves together stories—from the individual to the organizational—and extensive research to offer a comprehensive understanding of the problem of gender-based violence. She makes a clear, compelling case for safety through resistance to both protect individuals and change society. Valuable for everyone from policy-makers to individuals wanting to increase their safety, this book can change the world.”
- Wendy Rouse, author of Her Own Hero
“The Cost of Fear delivers a compelling critique of the shortcomings of conventional safety practices. Through meticulous evidence-based research and personal stories, Stone suggests more effective strategies for eliminating gender-based violence.”
– Rev. Irene Monroe, co-host of All Rev’d Up on Boston Public Radio
“Meg Stone offers her incredible knowledge with love and compassion, an essential guide for resistance-based self-defense training. Drawing from her decades-long experience, Stone empowers you to build mental resilience and vital techniques for developing situational awareness to defuse gender-based violence quickly for your safety. The Cost of Fear is a must-read for people of all genders and ages, regardless of their fitness and experience levels.”