What can men do to help women feel safe in the wake of Sarah Everard?

The case of Sarah Everard is sadly not an anomaly; violence against women has been described as an ‘epidemic’ by MP Jess Phillips. So what can men do to change things?
Jessica Benjamin11 March 2021

Since Sarah Everard went missing on Wednesday 3rd March, her name has monopolised headlines, social media feeds and WhatsApp group conversations.

Last night’s announcement from Cressida Dick, telling the public that human remains have been found in Kent, follows on from the arrest of a serving Met Police officer on suspicion of kidnap and murder.

The outpouring of shock and grief across social media has been monumental, with a vigil planned for Saturday 13th on Clapham Common, to pay tribute to Sarah and for ‘all women who feel unsafe, who go missing from our streets and who face violence every day.’

Whilst social media posts largely include women sharing their own experiences of sexual harassment and violence, many refer to the lengths that women regularly go to in order to feel safe whilst out alone – from carrying keys in hand to pretending to take a call.

But why should the onus be on women to protect themselves? Should it not be men’s responsibility to tackle the pervasive issue of violence and harassment towards women? One post in particular that’s gaining attention is asking exactly that: what can men can do to help women feel safer.

Stuart Edwards shared on Twitter: ‘I live less than five minutes from where Sarah Everard went missing. Everyone is on high alert. Aside from giving as much space as possible on quieter streets and keeping face visible, is there anything else men can reasonably do to reduce the anxiety/spook factor?’ He has since has over 1,200 replies.

So what can men do?

Keep their distance

One of the main talking points on Twitter was the importance of not following a woman too closely. Crossing the street to avoid her, keeping a safe distance whilst jogging, waiting for a separate lift to arrive if it’s just the two of you alone – these are all practical and easy ways to reduce anxiety for women walking alone.

Alert women to their presence – but not by engaging in conversation

Approaching a woman in silence can provoke fear and panic. If you’re behind a woman and she cannot see you, try to make some noise to let them know you aren’t sneaking up behind them – call a friend, jingle keys – basically make any noise to draw attention to yourself

Offer to walk friends home

A stranger wouldn’t appreciate an offer from an unknown man to walk her home. But a friend might. Whilst you might think a route is safe or it’s only a short walk, having a male presence is sadly a valuable tool in warding off unwanted attention.

Talk to other men

Whilst staying away from women and being helpful to your female friends is all well and good, violence towards and harassment of women is a problem that is ingrained in our society. The true solution is changing the way that men treat women – and this means calling out your friends and other men when they’re crossing the line. If you want to make a true and meaningful change, bring up the fact that 97 per cent of young women have experience sexual harassment next time you’re with your male friends. The resulting conversation might surprise you.

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