To ask if you feel safe as a woman to walk outside alone after dark

[Flufferblub]

I've been stuck indoors sick for a few days where I've been ill. I'm quite over weight and feel as though I need to go for a walk. I feel like I need to walk off the first meal I've had for a few days, as I feel quite uncomfortable. But I can't. Because I'm a woman and I don't feel safe enough to go out walking alone after dark. It's a shame that I don't feel safe enough to go out and get fresh air and exercise as a woman. Am I overly anxious, or is it just sensible to not go out alone at night? How do other women feel about this?

Thanks

I dont go on walks when it's dark on my own or when I'm with my children ( single mum so just us 3 walking )

I'm 5'1 and I weigh 45kg. Theres absolutely no way I could defend/protect us if somthing terrible happened. And although I'm aware somthing terrible could happen during any time of the day / night.. walking in the dark just makes me feel more vulnerable.

Also I do take the standard precautions that all women take and most men probably never even think twice about - ie if it's late I don't walk with headphones in or looking at my phone, I am very conscious of my surroundings and who else is around. But I wouldn't say I feel scared for the most part.

Depends on the context/area. Around my suburb where the houses are at night- totally safe. Beyond the back of my house where there are woods, fields and vast downs stretching for miles- absolutely not at night.

Grew up in London, have also lived in Manchester and Bristol.

Even 3 am I've never encountered any problems

I wouldn't walk though a park, woods or some open grass/commons though. I keep to the streets at night

I finish work at midnight and walk home. Doesn't bother me at all.

I feel safe.

Absolutely! I'm fine going out any time a day. I sometimes have to walk my dog in the middle of the night (like 2-3am) if he's poorly. I regularly go out socialising until midnight or 1am and take the metro home and then walk from there. Never had any issues where I live now. I would take a stroll in park or by a canal in the middle of the night but on a road, absolutely.

At 7pm of course unless you're going to say that you live somewhere really really unsafe

Around my estate or other busy areas, yes. On the path round the river, no.

I'd get out if I needed to even if it ended up doing laps round small area of my street.

When I was younger I felt invincible and would walk anywhere really, miles home from the city centre out to home in suburbia late at night.

Nowadays I can't run for toffee so would be wary and more cautious.

I don't, but I'm disabled and literally incapable of running away. I did more when I was able bodied.

Yes. I would walk most places alone. There are countryside walks I wouldn't do, not because I think there are people lurking but because I wouldn't want to break my ankle in a pothole.

Around the streets at night, not a problem. I may choose to go the longer way round and not through a dark alley but I wouldn't stay in just in case.

My kids and I walk to activities and back in the dark every week but it's early evening and I refuse to drive for such a short distance (less than a mile)

In my city yes, although I probably wouldn't walk through the park alone very late at night. I think if a woman never goes out alone when it's dark that would be very unusual, and also giving in to the stereotype of women being weak etc. Yes, take reasonable precautions, but get out there and live your life, OP, just as most women do.

I feel the same. If it's dark and I'm by myself, I'm on my guard, even if it's 5pm in winter. I avoid walking on my own in the dark if I can. I can rationalise in my head that I'm safe and that I shouldn't worry, but it feels like there's just a primal kind of fear that I can't shake off. (Maybe I'm just scared of the dark..?)

I watch too much Nordic Noir which might be relevant!

I do think, though, that there are men out there who have a lot of hate for women and my feelings aren't completely irrational.

Sorry to drip feed. I live in a rough town in the South East. I would feel safe walking a dog I think, but I do not have a dog. I'm also disabled, so I might feel more anxious and vulnerable than most.

When I was young before I became disabled, I used to bus home from work and school, and walk home in the dark. I always felt pretty nervous.

Yes. Nottingham inner city. No issues at all.

I would feel pretty safe where I live but being deaf and having poor night vision I don’t go out in the dark. The likelihood of me tripping up is high!

I just walked up and down my back garden a little bit like a weirdo

I live in suburbia, and go out for solo walks at night 3/5 times a week, anytime between 7 and 11. I don’t do the country or woods routes at that time (but that’s partly due to wildlife) but apart from one Local Oddball who walks his dog and stops to talk, a lot, with no off button, I don’t have any issues.

I always feel this way no matter where I am, I wouldn't walk alone at nightime sadly.

Up until about 10pm ish I wouldn't give it a second thought. After that it would depend on where I am.

I’ve lived and travelled independently all over the world. The quality of my life would have been dramatically reduced if I was too scared to move around alone at night.

Im also aware that statistically the riskiest thing I’ve done as a woman is marry a man.

I have to walk outside alone after dark, in order to get home from days in the office in winter. I have no choice in that. I feel perfectly safe doing so. I live in SW London

No I don't feel safe out in the dark. I do go out then as have to - but never feel quite safe when I do.

I do, but I usually have a large dog with me, & much as I don't have her for the purpose of protection, she is an effective deterrent.

She had a grumble at some teenagers who started following & then surrounding us once, they soon backed off.

Yes I feel safe to walk at night where I live. It's a nice part of London and I'm usually either staying within the area or walking to and from the tube to get into the centre. I might choose the more main road over the residential street if its fairly late and avoid dark alleyways. I also keep my wits about me - might cross roads or go another way if I see a drunken group ahead etc.