What Men Can Do To Make Women Feel Safe

I feel so sad having to write this post. This week has been utterly heartbreaking for women in the UK. I’ve spent my days and nights on Twitter and Reddit following Sarah Everards case, many sleepless of nights worrying about her and if she is safe.

Its truly shocking to say, as women in 2021 we just don’t feel safe, and from the recent tragic news of Sarah Everard this has become even more evident, and has sparked so many women to share their horrific stories, myself included.

On the flip side, I have seen a huge amount of victim blaming from men, which is disgraceful, no-one ever deserves to be assaulted or murdered. What else can we, as women do? Men simply cannot understand the thought process we have to go through just to leave the house or walk home from work, they can never fully understand, only support and believe use when we say we don’t feel right about something or someone.

Why shouldn’t women be allowed to walk home in the dark? Why do we feel so unsafe we have to carry keys in our hands or constantly check over our shoulders? Its safe to say that all women have experienced some form of harassment in their life and it is ingrained in us from a young age to carry protection or prepare for the worst. Its sad, but it s true.

Men need educating. Women are the ones who get told to “stay at home after dark” not men, it’s so unjust and unfair, the amount of stories I have read over the last week of women having men expose themselves whilst they were simply minding their own business and in some cases in broad daylight, is truly shocking!

Of course there are supportive men out there who are wanting to learn and protect women, but unfortunately they are few and far between ~ the trending hashtag #notallmen is evidence use of this. This is a time when women are speaking, we are using our voice for situations that concern us, somehow certain men have managed to turn this into something about them! Disgusting, get in the bin!

Are women not allowed to freely go anywhere anymore without the fear of being targeted?! This needs to change, men need to change. Society needs to change.

Men need to be more aware of how women are feeling and if they see a lone women, to know what to do to make her feel at ease. I’ve made a list of ways men can make women feel more secure on the streets or public transport, as lets face it, the daily occupancies of rape, murder, assault or stalking women NEEDS TO STOP! Let also stop the cat calling, groping, inappropriate talking, following, flashing, staring at us, sitting to next to on empty carriages.

---

Ways to make women feel at ease

~ If you see a women walking alone, cross over the street so you aren’t walking behind her

~ If you are in a group, don’t just be silent, talk ~ a silent group behind a lone women is frightening. Keep your mates inline, no inappropriate comments

~ DO NOT CAT CALL

~ If you see a women visibly distressed by something that is happening. Help. Don’t expect anything in return

~ No small talk, we don’t want to talk to random strangers or men in the street or public transport

~ Don’t sit next to us on an empty bus or train….

~ Keep your hands to yourself. Surely this is a given. But as we know it isn’t!!! You have no right to touch

~ Don’t stare, if we are alone it can be really unsettling

~ Don’t run up from behind, cross the road and continue there.

---

I hope that one day we can feel safe and can enjoy life without the fear of being abducted or worse, hopefully the media coverage on Sarah’s case will spur men on to make a change, as let’s face it, why shouldn’t women be allowed to take walk at night? Think about it. It madness!

Sending all my thoughts, love and energy to anyone (and the families) who have been a victim of assault, murder, rape, stalking or sexual harassment.

Let’s reclaim the night!

---

List of Support Services

List from https://reportandsupport.gold.ac.uk/support/full-list-of-support-services

Sexual violence support services:

·      The London Survivors Gateway: support to victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse to access specialist services in London. Free phone – 0808 801 0860 – https://survivorsgateway.london

·      Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (RASASC) (South London Rape Crisis): National Helpline – 0808 802 9999, 12-14.30pm and 19:00-21:30 daily – http://www.rasasc.org.uk/  

·      Revenge Porn Helpline: 10.00am-4.00pm, Monday to Friday – 0345 600 0459 https://revengepornhelpline.org.uk/

·      Rape Crisis: https://rapecrisis.org.uk/ Get information, help and support after rape, sexual assault or sexual abuse. We are the national membership organisation for Rape Crisis Centres in England

·      TUC Advice for staff who have experienced sexual harassment at work https://worksmart.org.uk/work-rights/discrimination/sexual-harassment/what-should-i-do-if-im-being-sexually-harassed-work

Domestic violence support services:

·      National domestic violence helpline: 0808 2000 247 (run by Refuge – https://www.refuge.org.uk/ and Women’s Aid – https://www.womensaid.org.uk/) – can give anonymous advice/information and provide access to refuge space and support services in other areas of London.

·      Athena: gender-based violence support for anyone living in Lewisham: http://www.refuge.org.uk/our-work/our-services/one-stop-shop-services/athena/

·      Respect – Men’s Advice Line: Helpline for male victims of domestic violence: 0808 801 0327, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm http://www.mensadviceline.org.uk/

·      National Centre for Domestic Violence: Can help with obtaining Non-Molestation Orders (injunctions): 0207 186 8270 or 0800 970 2070 and Press option 1: Information about getting an injunction (http://www.ncdv.org.uk/are-you-suffering-domestic-abuse/)

·      Rights of Women: information sheets on a range of issues, including injunctions and navigating the criminal justice system: http://rightsofwomen.org.uk/get-information/violence-against-women-and-international-law/

·      Jewish Women’s Aid: Specialist service with a helpline and counselling: The JWA helpline – 0808 801 0500, 9.30am – 9.30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

·      Chinese Information and Advice Centre (CIAC): part of the ASCENT consortium to provide linguist and culturally sensitive services to survivors of sexual and domestic violence and abuse https://ciac.co.uk/our-services/women-and-children-support/

·      Asian Women’s Resource Centre (AWRC): Domestic violence and advocacy services available in five community languages: Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu: http://www.asianwomencentre.org.uk/our-services

·      DeafHope: Domestic and sexual violence service for deaf communities. http://www.deaf-hope.org/

Forced marriage and so-called ‘honour’-based violence support services

·      Forced Marriage Unit: Government help and support line: fmu@fco.gov.uk, 020 7008 0151, From overseas: +44 (0)20 7008 0151 – Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm 
Out of hours: 020 7008 1500 (ask for the Global Response Centre) 

·      Karma Nirvana: Support victims of ‘honour’-based violence and forced marriage, helpline: 0800 5999 247 – Monday-Friday: 9am – 5pm. 

·      IKWRO: Specialist support (including counselling) to Middle Eastern and Afghan women and girls who are at risk of  ‘honour’ based violence, forced marriage, child marriage, female genital mutilation and domestic violence: http://ikwro.org.uk/about-us/

·      Ashiana: refuges, advocacy and counselling which specialises in helping Black and Minority Ethnic women, in particular, women from South Asian, Turkish & Iranian communities who are impacted by domestic violence, sexual violence, childhood sexual abuse, as well as women and girls who have experienced any form of Harmful Practice including forced marriage, honour based violence and female genital mutilation: http://ashiana.org.uk/about.

Stalking support services:

·      National Stalking Helpline:  www.stalkinghelpline.org, 0808 802 0300

·      The Suzy Lamplugh Trust: Stalking Information and Support service: https://www.suzylamplugh.org/Pages/FAQs/Category/anti-stalking

·      Paladin: High-risk stalking support service: http://paladinservice.co.uk/

·      Protection Against Stalking: http://www.protectionagainststalking.org/  

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) support services:

·      FORWARD: Specialist Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) support service: http://forwarduk.org.uk/what-we-do/at-risk-of-fgm/

Support for those concerned about their behaviour:

·      Respect: Helpline for perpetrators of domestic violence: 0808 802 4040, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm and webchat available Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am-4pm http://respect.uk.net/

·      Domestic Violence Intervention Project: Perpetrator programmes for men who want to change their abusive behaviour (can self-refer): https://dvip.org/services-for-men-women/mens-services/

Specialist LGBTQI+ support service:

·      GALOP: Specialist LGBTQI+ support for hate crime, sexual violence or domestic abuse: https://www.galop.org.uk/

Specialist counselling:

·      Women and Girls Network: Specialist gender-based violence counselling in some boroughs (including Lewisham): http://www.wgn.org.uk/

·      Women’s Trust: Specialist domestic violence counselling in some boroughs (NOT Lewisham), but support groups and workshops are pan-London: http://womanstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/

Generic support services:

·      Victim Support: For all victims of crimes (including domestic and sexual violence, harassment and hate crime): https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help/support-near-you/london/south-london

·      Law Centres Network: For free legal advice on a range of issues: http://www.lawcentres.org.uk/

---

---

Thank you for reading! Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagramand Pinterest for the latest cruelty-free beauty updates!

P.S If You Like This Blog Post, You Might Like My Other Makeup Skincare Haircare And Lifestyle Reviews. Please Contact Me To Let Me Know If There Are Any Products You Would Like To See Me Review.

**FRIENDLY REMINDER: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS THAT HELP OUT A LOT IF YOU CHOOSE TO PURCHASE FROM THEM (IT DOESN’T COST YOU ANYTHING EXTRA). I WILL ALWAYS TELL THE 100% TRUTH.