Women in Wiltshire have shared ten ways men can make them feel safer on the streets, especially during dusk and darkness.
The suggestions come in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard, who was reportedly abducted and killed in the London area before her body was dumped in woodland.
The high-profile disappearance has caused deep conversation about how safe women feel when they are in public. Thousands of accounts of harassment and assault have been shared on social media in the past 24 hours.
In a post on Spotted in Trowbridge’s Facebook page, an anonymous male wrote: ‘women should feel safe – what can us men do to help?’… and the responses flowed in.
We’ve put together a list of ten suggestions shared by real local women:
1. If you’re a dog walker, say “hello” or “good morning” when crossing paths
2. Provide space when jogging – do not run up behind a woman
3. If you see a woman walking alone, cross the road and walk on the other side
4. If you are wearing a hood, take it down and keep your hands out of your pockets
5. Understand that no means no
6. Do not walk behind a woman – if it is unavoidable, leave some space
7. When walking towards a woman, uncover your face and walk near the wall to ensure she does not feel trapped between you and said wall when you pass her
8. Call our family and friends’ misogyny and ‘locker room behaviour’ – the more men who stand up for women, the less they will be objectified
9. Intervene if you see a woman uncomfortable or in danger – whether by going over to ask if she is ok or simply by calling 999
10. Don’t stare
