By Elli Collins
Women’s safety has always been a hot topic, but seems to have been brushed under the carpet until recently.
The tragic story of Sarah Everard has caused women to unite, protesting for safety, and even speaking up about their own harassment stories.
According to an article by YouGov, 23% of women said they always feel unsafe walking alone at night and 27% always feel unsafe when walking down an alley way by themselves.
An article in The Guardian states that 97% of women aged 18-24 have been sexually harassed, and 80% of women any age said they have experienced sexual harassment in public places.
What can be done?
Setting up a poll on Instagram revealed the terrifying truth of how many women are scared of our streets. A whopping 88% said they feel unsafe on the streets, compared to just 12% feeling safe.
What can be done to make them feel safer? Here are some some good responses:
Melissa Uruk, 20, said: “There could be an app that has a button women can press when they feel unsafe which shares their live location with family or nearby police, and an option for a loud alarm. If they don’t turn the button off after 5-10 minutes, then police should try to call, and if there’s no answer, go out to find them.”
Jessica Bashir, 20, fashion and journalism student said: “I think men need to be more respectful. Ask us if we need help, or we’re okay. Don’t walk too close to us, and don’t be creepy.”
Kizzy Kelly, 20, graphic student, said: “Educating men that catcalls aren’t funny, and make women feel uncomfortable.”
Abbie Lawrence, 24, said: “A bigger police presence. Mandatory sessions/ lessons for men on women’s safety and what NOT to do. Also, free self-defence classes for women.”
The majority of answers were about having better lighting on the streets, and a bigger police presence.
Jess Phillips, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence, says that 118 women in the UK have been killed by men in the past year. She read the names of these women out in the Commons during the annual debate to commemorate International Women’s Day, which was on March 8th.
Ironically, women are most likely to be killed or harmed not by a stranger but by someone they know. Before the debate, MP Phillips said that an attack committed by a stranger was a “rarity” but domestic violence was not uncommon. In the light of the pandemic, it is becoming even more common.
When looking at the stats it’s sad to see how many women are scared to walk the streets, and how many have been sexually harassed and from a young age.
Something must be done to change to make women feel more comfortable, and make sure cases like Sarah Everard, and so many others, stop happening.
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