Streetwalker me
Following the disappearance of Sarah Everard, Dr Hannah Bows, an Associate Professor in Criminal Law at Durham University, opines as to why women shouldn’t have to risk trading their freedom for safety. According to her: Women need men to change their behaviour
. Say what?
Following the outpouring of women’s stories on social media in response to Everard’s death, many men have acknowledged the privileges they enjoy in public spaces – such as freely being able to walk the streets at night without fear of sexual harassment or assault – things women cannot take for granted. Some asked what they could do to help. Popular responses include giving women space, dropping back while walking behind a woman on her own or, ideally, crossing the road and walking ahead of her to reduce her sense of unease.
Dr Hannah Bows, The Conversation
The statement that many men have acknowledged the privileges they enjoy
is meaningless without context. Given that it was the response to stories on social media, presumably Twitter, rather than an unbiased population study, then it's representative of nothing more than a few soyboys simping for a shag. It is, therefore, inconsequential.
Actually, there are places where I've not felt able to freely walk the streets at night; but that's by-the-by. Nevertheless, I'm pretty sure that the nasty people out there, the rapists- and murderers-to-be, are not going to give a shit about outpourings on social media.
Meanwhile, back in the real world
I really don't know what proportion of the population, women as well as men, have any clue who's behind them; they're wearing earbuds and are obsessing over their devices. Besides, I usually wear soft-soled shoes, all the better for creeping up on people for comfort. So, when I'm approaching someone from behind, I have absolutely no idea whether or not they can hear me, let alone whether it bothers them.
I can tell you a couple of things though, Dr Bows: I walk at my own pace; and the only reason that I cross the road is because my destination calls for it. But I am willing to compromise. If I'm ever walking behind a woman, and she feels uncomfortable, she can cross the road. And I pinky promise
not to follow her, m'kay? (thumbup)
Perhaps the money spent on associate professors in criminal law might be better, and more effectively, spent on real and meaningful prevention programmes. Whatever they might be. Perhaps ask Twitter?