As a female do you have the courage to walk alone in the dark?

[Vaccine001]

I have done so but rarely. It has always terrified me. What if i akways think to myself..

Yes I do, I run in the dark, walk the dog in the dark, walk home from the station in the dark.

I won't walk through the local park or woods, more because the teenage drinkers shout abuse not because I'm worried about anything happening to me per se.

I was mugged in broad daylight as a school girl on the train platform by another schoolgirl . I just have my wits about me and hope for the best.

I often wonder if it would change any attitudes within politics or police if they read these threads and saw the level of fear we actually live with? Would it be eye opening for them, or do they know and just not care?

I do. I always have. I think it's important to have some perspective and not live one's life in fear.

Yes, I do. Without any real thought as well; I'm not in fear while I'm walking.

I've lived in south London most of my life and it has never occurred to me to stop doing what I wanted simply because it was dark. Statistically I'm much more at risk from people (men) I actively let into my circle.

@Vaccine001

I don't know what the solution os. Im gettimg older almost 50 and i will be even more vulnerable soon. Sigh.

1. Therapy cbt

2 get into a women only self defence course like krav maga . At 50+ I did krav mag foundation women only at jw3 nw London open to any women Best thing ever for confidence

Who owns a hat pin?!

There are alarms you can carry
Speak to local police for advice on alarms.
Or local women's advice centre

Sensible precautions
There is a difference between 6 pm in ei ter when lots of shops etc openand midnight but both are in the dark

Shops cafes offer refuge if needed

I do. I'm far more nervous these days with recent events than I have been in years, but I will not curtail my life through fear. This week alone I've walked home at 9pm from an exercise class and 9.30 from the theatre. Both about 20 minutes. As PP have said, it's dark at 4pm in the winter anyway. Although 6pm dark and midnight dark are obviously very different in terms of people around.
I lived in London for 20 years, and I still work there, and still don't have a car even though I've moved out, so walking is just part of my life. I will get a cab home from the station after dark if I've been out for drinks in London, but that's not wanting a 25 minute walk with all my work stuff as much as the safety issue.

I don't really go anywhere that I can walk to so I always have the car. Any walks I wld go on would be during the day certainly not at night anyway. I would happily walk around my area though when it's dark.

In the past though when I was a teenager and wasn't driving, I used to walk home in the dark and in really dodgy parts. Like walking through parks that are known for anti social behaviour and on occasion sexual assaults (not very often at all but it was known for it with maybe years inbetween anything happening).

I was always due home before my friends (whose parents let them stay out really late or were out at the pub themselves). So I'd wait until that last minute and then have to take the short cut through the park by myself. It was enclosed and wooded so couldn't be seen from houses etc really scary to be honest. I hated it and sometimes used to run through it. I'd never do it now though, no way. If my mum had known she'd have been furious but she'd also have told me to leave earlier and go the longer way!

Yes I do

I only feel comfortable walking in the dark with my large dog, not with the tiny one.
In my teens and early 20's I felt comfortable as I was physically more able ( runner ) , now early 50's with a hip and back problem I am much more vulnerable.
I actually had this discussion with DH yesterday, he had no idea how uncomfortable walking after dark can be for women.

These murders were horrific but I'm not sure that the level of fear women are apparently living with is commensurate.

For a start they were both in their 20s. I'm 51 and of less interest to psychopaths with a sexual interest.

The majority of rape victims (80% according to some studies) are 12-30 years, although I am not denying that older women are targets too.

And the majority of women murdered are killed by their partner, ex partner or someone known to them.

So acquaintances are more of a threat to women than strangers.

It depends where you live but my local area is relatively safe after dark. I live in London and there are loads of people around at night until the early hours. It's well lit. I wouldn't be crossing commons, heaths, parks, wasteland, & I avoid poorly lit lanes and alleys with few passers by. There are parts of London I wouldn't go after dark - but most Londoners know where they are. I've lived in London all my life and I've never been assaulted. I've been kerb crawled plenty, harassed etc. But that was more when I was younger.

It depends, if I have no choice I obviously have before.
I have lived both very rurally and in central London, I feel much safer in London bizarrely if sticking to very central, densely populated areas. For example I would walk to the supermarket very late at night, or home from work late, or after a night out with no problems, or catch public transport as it was usually always busy and that made me feel safer.
But now as I don’t drive, living rurally means walking down narrow unlit country foot paths to get anywhere and I avoid it if at all possible after 6pm.

Yes I do.

Yes of course I do. I think there is a lot of safety hysteria at the moment. The Sarah Everard killing was despicable, but it was also a rare incident. Women are more likely to be attacked by someone that they know. I refuse to live in fear and try to be sensible about risk.

I used to when I was early twenties, and thought I was invincible. Used to get so angry with my Dad for telling me not to. I hated it when he'd step out from behind the bus stop and escort me home when I finished uni/work.

Now I would do anything to see his face waiting for me, and realise that it was out of love and fear. I also realised later that he'd been doing the same thing for my brother - DB got chased by a gang of local lads throwing bricks. My Dad ended up getting his head kicked in one night protecting him. It was disturbing. One of those local lads later sexually assaulted a lass getting off a bus by herself.

It's wrong and unfair but I won't put myself in that position. I'll walk in a city centre after dark because it's busy and bright, but not when the drunks come out. I don't drive so DH now meets me. Doesn't take away the threat totally but makes me feel safer.

Depends where tbh.Town centre no chance,my local area probably.

I’m happy to walk around well lit residential street in the dark, but I wouldn’t walk through my local park once it starts getting dark.

About 15 yrs ago I went to an interview for nanny job, I think (can’t be too certain) it was in Barnes, South West London and walking back to the station I had to walk past a wooded area in the dark. I just didn’t feel safe even though there were plenty of cars driving on the main road. I decided then and there to rule myself out of that job, which was a pity as it seemed like a really nice job/employer.

Of course, if I want to get home from the pub then it's a walk home. I do walk past a park although wouldn't walk through it as it's pitch black.

I've always walked home on my own from nights out, etc. and will go for walks after work in the dark with headphones in which some of my friends are appalled about. I've never thought about it too much and won't be changing any time soon. The risk is there but it's minimal.

In Plymouth an incel shot people dead in broad daylight.

Personally, I the two times I have.been sexually assaulted/ flashed have been in broad daylight.

Not going out at night is not enough to protect women from violence and abuse perpetrated by men who hate women.

I walk in the dark, and late at night sometimes. I used to have to commute on public transport quite late in the evening.

I'm as aware of my surroundings as I can be. There are some routes I wouldn't take.
If I'm waiting for a bus or train I try to make sure nobody can corner me or come up behind me without me noticing.

I was assaulted on three occasions as a young woman. Every single time it was busy, indoors, brightly lit, mainly daytime, and by a complete stranger.
Not going out in the dark isn't the answer.

@Vaccine001

Embracelife ibhave. A reason I'm not telling you here. Ok? Please dont demand personal information

huh??

@Embracelife wasn't asking for personal information

but then you go on to disclose very personal information about yourself anyway ??

Yes I do. Always have, always will.

Yes. I have no choice. I leave for work at 0630 and finish at 19.30.

Yes I do. Not regularly as the need doesn't arise but if I've been out in our local town for the evening with friends, I will walk home.

Stranger attacks are so rare, which is why they are so horrific when they do happen. I'm at more risk of being in a road traffic accident yet I still go out every day either as a pedestrian or in my car.

I just feel there’s an undercurrent of judgement towards those women who feel worried walking home in the dark. Maybe I’m over sensitive to it, but plenty of us have had bad experiences and I wonder if this thread might be making some feel bad.