Women's Night Safety
Asking men to advocate for women and for safer streets all year round
November 11, 2022
Women's safety at night continues to be a big issue. Whether its getting home safely after a night out, catching a cab with a reliable taxi driver or simply going out for a walk or run after the sun sets, women unfortunately have to often change, adapt or restrict their plans, behaviour and even whole lifestyle just to be able to feel safe. So what can we do?
In the UK, a violent man kills a woman every three days.
What's refreshing to see are campaigns and movements aimed at changing men's behaviour and attitudes, rather than instilling fear, blame and shame onto women. With nights getting even darker, it's a great time to share some recommended resources and campaigns in the hopes of changing minds and bettering the safety of women's lives.
GoodGym is working to understand how these issues impact on people at sessions and how we can all better support each other to feel and be safe. GoodGym has recently signed up to the Mayor Of London's Women's night safety charter and has plans to implement its recommendations across all areas.
Why should men be allies?
Men need to stand up for women and acknowledge their male privilege when it comes to outdoor accessibility and the inequality women experience. Even when not identifying themselves as part of the problem, allyship means that men will commit to help and have the responsibility to not remain silent and call out bad behaviour when witnessed.
Have a word
"In the UK, a violent man kills a woman every three days. We can change this. We need to change this. And as men, it starts by reflecting on our own behaviour and the way we see, treat and talk about women. We all have a responsibility to raise our voices to help keep women and girls safe."
Click here to watch the video and to sign up as an ally for girls and women
That's not ok
97% of women in the UK aged 18-24 had been sexually harassed in some way
"Recently, UN Women UK released a report following an investigation they conducted. It found that 97% of women in the UK aged 18-24 had been sexually harassed in some way, with a further 96% not reporting the incident because they felt like it wouldn't be dealt with appropriately or ignored."
The "That's not ok" campaign was created to provide support and resources for girls, women and allies alike. Articles and links targeting themes such as personal safety apps, support lines for reporting and even a glossary to better understand the issues girls and women are facing.
Click here to find out more on their website
Staying safe
Technology is fast becoming an effective partner in keeping girls and women safe. Below are some tools to utilise during walks, runs and cycles to GoodGym sessions as well as everyday use.
WalkSafe is free and a very popular safety app in the UK. It features a map that allows people to plan their safest route home by looking at recent crime data. Users can notify their friends and family while out and send an automatic notification when they have reached their destination.
WalkSafe is available at the Apple Store and Google Play
bSafe has an exclusive emergency alarm feature that is voice-activated and automatically starts live-streaming video and audio to chosen contacts and records everything that happens. It also offers features such as ‘fake call’ (where you can get your phone to call you) and live GPS tracking.
bSafe is available at the Apple Store and Google Play
You can use Strava Beacon (free) when recording with the Strava mobile app to share your real-time location with your family and friends. Your safety contact will receive a text message with a link to view your activity in real-time through their mobile browser.
Strava is available at Apple store and Google Play
Support for women
As campaigns for change and allyship continue, too many women are still experiencing violence and sexual harassment. Whilst this unfortunately still continues, there are many great places that can help those in need of support. Below are just some of the organisations available.
Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (for training and campaign support)
End Violence Against Women (for specialist women’s support services)
Suzy Lamplugh Trust (campaigning, education and support with a focus on stalking)
The Havens (specialist centres in London for people who have been raped or sexually assaulted)