Risk of sexual assault and change in behaviour

[JackandSam]

I read a post on Instagram the other day that got me thinking - a woman said she was with a male friend in her apartment building and he was ribbing her about getting the lift down 3 floors and she told him it was because there were no security cameras in the stairwell.

I few weeks earlier and I was speaking to a friend who runs. She said she was getting annoyed at a male colleague telling her how nice his run along the riverside is in the morning as she can't/ wouldn't run along the riverside due to safety. She also doesn't run outside in winter due to it being dark.

It got me thinking, I don't think I've ever changed my behaviour because of these sorts of concerns - concerns about a particular man yes, but not general risk.

This isn't I don't think because I'm unaware of the threat, or because I've been "lucky", quite the opposite - my 2 experience of sexual assault are in the middle of a busy pub in daylight at 2pm with lots of people around and then with a male friend. I think my perception of risk is different?

What are your thoughts?

I am a lot less bothered than many of my friends, but even so there are times when I choose the "safer" alternative. Like, I will run around the riverside path if it's around 7am ish or 5pm ish and I know there will be others using it; I won't at 5.30am or 8pm because there's less chance of passers-by being a deterrent to any attack.

If you are genuinely saying that you think being in a busy pub of an afternoon is safer than a deserted pathway at night, then yes I think your perception of risk is different to most women's. I would say that it just goes to show you're not safe anywhere, but I would let my guard down more in a busy daytime pub than an isolated and exposed dark outdoor space.

I've had this conversation with friends. I'm quite big and strong and never feel physically threatened as I know I can put up a good fight. So I don't change my behaviours but I am naturally very vigilant.