In recent years, many women have been attacked or murdered on the streets. One of them includes the brutal murder of Sarah Everard, who was falsely arrested by Wayne Couzens, a police officer, and her murderer. This creates the question of how are young women supposed to feel on the streets in the dark when no one can be trusted?
In the ITV News survey that was done in July 2024, it was found that 81% of young women (aged 18-25) feel unsafe when walking home alone in the dark. This raises great concern for young women. When asked on this topic an anonymous source recounted her experience: “When I came back from a cheerleading social event, whilst walking back to my university accommodation, which was a very short distance from where I was dropped off, I found myself full of fear that I was being followed. I even felt that I had to repeatedly look over my shoulder in an attempt to calm myself however, I still felt unsafe and reluctantly resisted the strong urge to run to ensure that I was safe because, I was scared that I might bring attention to myself.”.
She continued, “I hate that it has become a social norm that women feel this way when walking home alone in the dark. I feel like I am constantly in fight or flight mode.”.
This constant terror has been shown in many ways, for example, 28% of women are prepared to use everyday objects, such as keys as a weapon to protect themselves from harm, many others carry or are encouraged to carry rape alarms and sharing locations are seen as a must.
Many other young women were asked about this topic, one said “It’s one of my biggest fears. I avoid all situations where I am in the dark walking because it makes me really anxious.”.
Another said “I dread the leading up when I know I have to walk home on my own. Recently, I wanted to leave a lecture early, so I didn’t have to walk in the dark because I’m so aware of my surroundings and worried. It’s not right and so I feel angry that boys don’t have to worry as much about it.”.
Numerous amounts of people have expressed that urgent action is needed including Jess Phillips, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Victims and Safeguarding, who has branded this issue as a “national emergency”. This has left several women in hope that something will be done. One voiced her view on the situation when questioned on whether she believes something will be done to allow women to feel safer: “I feel as though something will be done as women’s safety at night has become such a wide scale problem, rules and solutions will have to be put in place.”.
However, while many women are seeing this as a time for change some are questioning what can be done, one woman expressed her worry: “It’s hard to come up with rules but, if there were ways to get home safely like buses, we would see less of it. But most education is directed at women, like ‘walk home with a friend’ when I think more men need a conversation on it.”.
Additionally, Preliminary analysis by Women in Data shows that 70% of women in the UK have experienced harassment. This is causing women to have high hopes that the government will prioritise action being taken to support women and allow them to feel safe when walking in the dark on their own.