It was only last week I was out on a run in the afternoon trying to chase the sunset. I’m sure by the time this piece will be published that the days will be much shorter. Why am I mentioning this? Unfortunately, I was at one point run after, on a well-lit road, by a group of young lads who found it amusing. For me, it was anything but. My watch recorded peak heart rate immediately.  

Experiences like this are sadly not isolated. The case of Sarah Everard three years ago struck the nation and exposed the vulnerability that women face when out in public alone. Women feel the need to constantly look behind them, hold their keys or phone clenched amongst hands in pockets, not wear headphones and take longer routes home so they can see and be seen clearly. This is the new norm for women which is only heightened with increased hours of darkness.  

As we head into winter, it is true that men need to become more aware and considerate of the position that women find themselves in, so much so, that it has been in the headlines recently. However, it was somewhat positive, as Irish actress Saoirse Ronan was able to directly address one of the many issues women go through and expose the naivety of even those deems the ‘nice guys’ of Hollywood.  

Since the death of Sarah Everard, work has been done to ensure discussions between men and women have become more frequent, not only to highlight the anxiety and fear that women may face, but to inform and educate. Nevertheless, there is still a lot to be done to open up these conversations further. Not only did Graham Norton, the host of the show Ronan was on, move on quickly, but the backlash Paul Mescal has received for being naive or ignorant, hasn’t been useful towards having these open conversations. Really, the actor has been apologetic for his comment and is open to discussions over women’s safety.  

Discussing this topic, although it may seem sensitive, should not be a taboo. Encouraging men to be open to these everyday thoughts and processes women feel the need to go to protect themselves is an important step going forward towards. 

Photo Credit: WikiMedia Commons