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..

Used to but seldom if ever nowadays – have dogs with me everywhere I am out and about. My daughter is only a very slight, petite tiny thing and has to walk to and from her workplace alone most of which is on main roads but she has a panic alarm and screw driver in her pocket in case she meets the wrong sort.

My question was it get s dark at 5 pm in winter.
How do you manage to only go out in daylight?
I e how can a person have a job or manage day to day by only going out in daylight hours?

I didn't ask why but how
But op has revealed traumatic event.
There is help for ptsd.
Most people need to get around and about after dark espec in winter to from work shops evening class etc.
Some part will be walking eg from bus or train or car parked on street

Look for well lit routes
Don't be on your phone
Be aware
Learn contingency or self defense
Self defence classes are all about awareness how to get out of danger....before you get into hitting back

Yes I've got the bus home late aswell. Always wear sensible shoes and I have done martial arts since a young age which I hope would help. To be honest I'm more concerned I would have something stolen more than the horrible incident.

@PurpleDaisies

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.

I feel the same the other way too - at least one person has said "of course not, it's just common sense not to walk alone after dark"

I have also had judgment in real life for going out on my own

Yep. Never bothered me, ever.

No issues at all. Living a mile from the nearest unclassified road and another 2 miles to the village, I'm used to it. Doesn’t bother me. I go out walking in the dark.

"I don't do it anymore, unless it's absolutely unavoidable. It's not safe is it. "

Eh? Of course it's safe. Unless you live in a very dangerous place?

@Oblomov21

"I don't do it anymore, unless it's absolutely unavoidable. It's not safe is it. "

Eh? Of course it's safe. Unless you live in a very dangerous place?

Did Sarah Everard live in a dangerous place?

@Kindertonguehappierlife

No I don’t. But then I don’t know if that’s a ‘female’ thing...none of my male friends do either

Yes they do! Asked DH that recently. He would take a dark alley-type shortcut

Yes I walk on my own everywhere at all times of the day and night. I refuse to let men's actions dictate my freedom of choice

Yes I am fine with that. I prefer buses to tubes. I have familiarised my self with my local area and feel pretty confident. I used to live in Peckham and people were always shocked that I went out in the dark on my own but to be honest, the scarey times were on the buses after work when youths got on and smacked the driver for having the 'cheek' to expect them to pay for a ticket (this was before oyster cards!). Really would get unpleasant at times!

yes, always have .

I have got to the point in my life, (early 30's) that I don't care what other people think.

I don't walk alone at dark. I just don't.

I'm luck in that my job is 9-5 and I drive. I actually don't leave the house after 7:30pm anyway because I'm a lone parent and that's bed time for DS.

If I go out on the rare occasion, and I need to get a taxi home. I ask the taxi rank attended/chaperone for a female driver. I wait with him whilst people pass me and get in taxi's and then when a female driver turns up he puts me in that taxi. Or I'll get a lift home from a family member like my mother or older brother if they are available.

If I go on a date, it will be in a restaurant or public place, and to be honest most men have offered to walk me to my car. I don't decline.

It's not great that I have to take these measures, and I do agree I shouldn't have to. But I choose to, to keep myself safe because men can't be trusted.

I have to walk to and from work in the dark in autumn/winter (mix of Country roads with no pavements, quiet rural cycle paths, and quiet residential areas). Some evenings do feel a little scary on the cycle paths in particular.

The only times I've done the emergency stay on the phone with me calls to friends have been in daylight, and every time I've had men abuse me on the street/buses etc has been in broad daylight too.

Nope.

No, although the only time I've been knowlingly followed was in the daytime when a man started calling after me and crossed the road and continued to talk at me while I tried to get away. I ended up sprinting to a shop to get away from him.

Depends where it is but I had a bad experience walking home from work one night when a bloke crept up behind me in the dark and grabbed my backside and ran off.

I prefer not to but in a well lit street with a lot of people about I possibly would.

In winter it’s often - when I was working anyway

Hard to avoid if you finish at around 6.00

But it’s London so loads doing them same

As a woman, yes, I do.

Did Sarah Everard live in a dangerous place?

For teenage boys and young men in particular, yes.

No I do not walk anywhere in the dark.

The two times I did do it when I was younger- I was followed.
Once I managed to stop a couple and asked them to pretend to know me.
Second time I just ran.

Both times I crossed and recrossed the road to see if I was being followed.

@PurpleDaisies

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.

A precedent was set with Covid. Although that was less undercurrent and more very overt.

I’m a shift worker who uses public transport and i have travelled and lived independently all over the world. It’s simply not an option for me not to.

I also have a good understanding that the bulk of any woman’s risk of physical harm actually comes from the home. I think those who try to convince us that our biggest risk is out in the world have a clear agenda. It’s not about safety, it’s about control.

*If I go on a date, it will be in a restaurant or public place, and to be honest most men have offered to walk me to my car. I don't decline.

It's not great that I have to take these measures, and I do agree I shouldn't have to. But I choose to, to keep myself safe because men can't be trusted.*

Why trust someone you're on a date with then?

No, never