After the Sarah Everard events this year, we've become more aware of women's safety in society - especially at night.
Photo credit: @_c_cook on Instagram (CC BY-SA)
Do you feel safe travelling home late at night? When it's dark and rain is crashing down, senses are dulled, causing fear to rise in almost everyone, but women especially. The devastating news of the murder of Sarah Everard increases these concerns, along with the rising issue of spiking.
As women, we all seek for ways to try and secure our safety on our late night travels. Some measures advised to women are:
- Get a taxi
- Call a friend on the walk
- Get someone to meet halfway
- Try and organise a lift
When I’ve spoke to my male friends, they have been surprised at me saying some of the things I’ve experienced on my journeys – even the shortest ones. I told them how anytime I walk at night I will get some sort of experience that unsettles me – whether it’s a catcaller or the fact that one night I was followed home from work at my previous job. Even on a simple walk that’s five minutes from work to a pub to meet my friends for a society social, in a baggy top and regular jeans, I got catcalled. Its terrifying how often it happens.
I know I keep saying ‘them’ so I’m not specifically attacking one gender when I talk about why I feel unsafe at night but I’m not terrified of another woman if I’m going to be completely honest. Although I know it’s not just men who are the issue, there’s enough to say men are the main issue for me. Because if anyone had two 35 year olds put in front of them, one male and one female, most people would say the man strikes the concern. One person I know tried the ‘not all men’ argument with me when I spoke up about an issue and said why do men have to be like that, but managed to show him what I meant when I asked why he wouldn’t want his girlfriend walking alone at night. His answer was men. It does go to show when you hear that answer from another male.
Every time I walk home from work or any time at night, fears and scenarios haunt my head of what could happen. It could be my last walk home. I might not even reach home. I feel that fear every single time without fail. That’s why I always get my friends to message me when I get home if they’re walking or driving more than ten minutes as otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to settle until I knew they were safe. And I do this with my male and female friends as I worry for both of them. And I’m not the only one who does this; most of my friends do as well as a feeling of care.
There’s safety measures slowly being brought out around the country to help bring ease to women especially walking around at night for one reason or another.
By Chloe Hall
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