By Emily Bryant
April 04, 2021
It is the unfortunate reality of many women’s lives to live in fear of men. Women grow up hearing the stories of other women; the harassment, the threats, and things far worse. Such accusations are not unfounded. One in four killings in the UK in March 2020 were women, and one in ten women have experienced harassment from men worldwide. These statistics become more drastic for women of color, as studies in the United States note that 20% of black women experienced rape in their lifetimes and indigenous women were at increased risk of sexual violence. Women and girls globally have continued to experience violence and harassment from men, and the pandemic showed no signs of it stopping.
For centuries, women have been at the mercy of men and their whims. Their attitudes and violence towards us are attributed to our behaviors, our actions, and even our clothing. We are conditioned from an early age to take measures to minimize the danger we could experience. For example, when walking home alone at night, you: take a well-lit route that is often busy; wear bright, non-revealing clothing so you are easily spotted by helpful bystanders; tell friends what you’re wearing and where you’re going; and, if you are followed, head to the nearest available public space (like a shop/store) and ask for help.
So, you can imagine the world’s collective horror when the story of Sarah Everard, a woman who did all the ‘right’ things, reached our screens. A young woman who took every precaution, who did her best to be safe. Hearing about her case struck a chord with me. Walking home alone is something I had experienced hundreds of times, whether it be from places like university, the supermarket, or the train station. Knowing that a situation I had been in had led to something tragic for someone else stuck with me. I and many of my female friends became increasingly concerned about leaving the house; we no longer went anywhere alone, and some avoided going anywhere altogether. I flinched at every sound, any figure in the corner of my eye. I lived in fear, some of which is yet to go away.
Sarah Everard’s murder is a harsh reminder to women across the world that, no matter what we do, our safety is never guaranteed. This is not a new revelation; the women’s issues campaigner Julie Bindel raised that ‘male violence is a problem for men to fix’ in an interview earlier this year. Despite this, Everard’s case saw a spike in the ‘Not All Men’ social media movement. However, the statistics I have previously stated, and the fact that approximately 736 million women have experienced violence globally, leads me to this conclusion: maybe not all, but enough. Enough men are causing fear, being violent, and hurting women. Perhaps, one day, we won’t need to be afraid. But, for now, we are reminded of why we are.
Find statistics on violence against women here:
Read about Sarah Everard’s case here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c8657zxk82wt/sarah-everard-case
Find helplines on violence against women here: https://www.endvawnow.org/en/need-help