Elizabeth Smart urges women to prioritize safety over politeness

Kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart is urging women to prioritize personal safety over social politeness. The 38-year-old advocate shared these warnings during the launch of her new podcast, ‘The Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart’, which features interviews with fellow survivors discussing their experiences and paths to healing.

Smart, who was abducted at age 14 from her home in Utah in 2002, emphasized that women often stifle their intuition to avoid causing offense to others. She advised women to trust their instincts even when it feels uncomfortable, stating, ‘Prioritize your safety over other people’s emotions.’

In addition to her media work and advocacy for survivors of sexual violence and abuse, Smart noted that she is teaching her own daughters how to recognize potentially dangerous situations and trust their instincts.