If you don't appear to be a threat, there are many situations in which you have can have the upper hand without anyone realizing it. This is an advantage that many of us ladies have naturally. It can be infuriating when someone doesn't seem to take you seriously. I spent years bemoaning the fact that everyone thought I looked "sweet" or "nice." If that's you too, I have good news. In reality, it's actually a more often good thing that you and I are the last people anyone would expect to pull out a Glock or other weapon.

First, let's talk about the negative side of being underestimated.

It's not all sneaky ninja stuff, though. Being underestimated can also be a disadvantage. It can make you look like easy prey for predators. It can make others think that they can rip you off a little more easily.

It's important to hit a fine line between being non-threatening and being confident to avoid those kinds of issues. You don't want to set yourself up to be a target by being meek and unassuming. There's a difference between looking like an easy target and simply not looking like a threat.

But on the positive side…

Looking non-threatening can mean you have the element of surprise. All of my friends who are military or former military have drilled into my head the 3 parts of a successful attack:

Speed

Surprise

Violence of action

Even if you've only got two out of three, you have a much better chance to prevail when defending yourself.