Do you walk alone?

[Cwenthryth]

Not necessarily strictly a feminist discussion I guess more a personal one, but your brains are the ones I’d like to talk about this with

I was walking my dogs this morning very early, before 6am, in the forest - it was beautiful, felt like had the world to ourselves, with just a few bunnies and cows to share the glorious sun burning off the morning dew. Didn’t meet another soul the whole time and my car was the only car in the car park when I arrived, there was one other when I left.

I was thinking however as I was walking that perhaps I am quite vulnerable doing this, although I don’t feel any fear - when younger I backpacked around the world solo etc, it’s just never occurred to me to worry. But this is what happened to Julia James isn’t it. Just walking her dog.

Do you walk alone? Do you take any emergency supplies with you like rape alarms etc?

We had a discussion about this in one of my feminism seminars at uni. The Prof taking the seminar said she wore a mask out at night sometimes. She figured seeing a mask looming at you out of the dark, coupled with her large frame, would put most people off. I thought it was a bit peculiar to be honest.

Yes, in a very rural area. I don't feel vulnerable.

I'd feel anxious walking through a city on my own.

I suspect it's what you are used to and feel comfortable with.

Yes I walk alone at all hours of the day and night. Statistically harm is unlikely.

Also rape alarms will not summon help. But they will help if you set them off and hold them to your assailants ears.

Not really. I walk with my son, but not generally on my own.

I’m very aware of my own vulnerability, not just as a woman but also as a hard of hearing person. I also have anxiety, which doesn’t help.

I walk alone with my dogs every day. I refuse to be frightened into doing anything else. I don't walk with them after dark unless I absolutely have to, but that's as much to do with the fact they are black dogs as anything!
The thing with the Julia James case though is I don't think we know for sure whether the person who killed her knew her? Was it truly a random attack or someone with a grudge either directly towards her personally or towards her as a member of the police force?

Absolutely and I could never imagine not doing so, those are some of the best times in my life. I take the view that even if the worst were to happen - a vanishingly small risk - I would still have had years and years of happiness and peace doing what I love. I much prefer to live fully and openly and let the chips fall as they may. I am generally very comfortable with risk though, I'm not sure if that's just how some of us are born/made. My mother and sister are exactly the same

Yep, in the dark with headphones in, not for long distances and I will continue to do so. Not saying I would go for a stroll through a dark wooded area though.

During the day yes, I wouldn't early morning or evening/night. Even in the day I can feel uncomfortable if it's quiet and a man is behind me. I will be teaching my sons to be concious of how some women feel walking on their own and actions they can take to make them more comfortable (not walking too close behind that kind of thing) maybe that's OTT but I just don't think many men are aware of how some women feel on their own.

Yes I do. I'm not going to let men intimidate me and kerb my freedoms. The current culture of women are weak and must be protected at night actually makes me a bit uncomfortable, once again it puts women on the back foot and enables men to gain further power over us. I am aware there is a risk there, although its small. But its a risk I'm prepared to take.

@name8793

During the day yes, I wouldn't early morning or evening/night. Even in the day I can feel uncomfortable if it's quiet and a man is behind me. I will be teaching my sons to be concious of how some women feel walking on their own and actions they can take to make them more comfortable (not walking too close behind that kind of thing) maybe that's OTT but I just don't think many men are aware of how some women feel on their own.

Not OTT at all. For me personally if I'm walking alone at night I prefer a man to be in front of me where I can see him.

I do walk on my own at all hours but that doesn't mean that I don't sometimes feel antsy if there's someone behind me.

I watch too many serial killer and true crime documentaries to go in my woods at night alone. I am someone who always feels vulnerable in the country on my own unfortunately but it doesn't stop me walking the dog during the day in the woods. I don't mind the farm road night or day as normally decent amount of cars going by

I do but only in certain areas.

Yes. I walk the dog on my own in the forest behind my house. He is a pretty big dog mind, so doubt anyone would want to take him on. Been doing this for years and will keep doing so until I am too frail to walk it. I love the quiet.

I walk the dog alone through the woods and fields - mostly early morning. Like most if us, I refuse to be intimidated. But, I do sometimes get anxious if I'm in the depths of the forest. I prefer to be out on the plains and fields where I can see who and what's coming (and can keep a watching eye on daft dog to make sure he doesn't go rushing off).

Given all the recent depressing revelations about the behaviour of too many of our male police officers, I reckon I'm as safe there as I am on the streets at times.

I do but local and I stick to areas where there's other people about. I used to love to walk around our local nature reserve alone but there was a sexual assault during the day there recently and now I'm not confident enough.

Yes. I run at night too. I was raped in my own bed by someone I'd been taught I could trust (used his job to get me to open the door, having been around in a professional capacity earlier that day) so I actually feel safer in open spaces than I do inside by myself. No headphones/music though.

I have always walked and ran alone, in the city and country in the UK and abroad. I have had a couple of unnerving experiences - one with a guy who I think just enjoyed scaring women, and one abroad where I think I could have been in genuine danger. In both cases I altered where and when I went out but didn't stop as I felt almost angry at the thought that men would limit my behaviour.

However now I've got a baby I feel much more vulnerable and I find myself self limiting a lot more. Not just because I question my ability to protect my child, but also because the consequences of something happening to me now seem so much greater if they also impact my son.

Always.

I do sometimes, mostly the local (rural) canal. The dog is too old for it now. DH worries more than I do, so me wanting to walk usually motivates him to come too.

Yes.
But I was looking at a new river walk and considering taking the dog on it.
I did think will it be safe at 7:30 am by myself.
It makes me angry I have to think about this.

Yes. I may even have been in that other car

I walk the dog in all sorts of places and refuse to be scared off. I have only very occasionally been worried by the behaviour of another walker, and a male naturist doig his thing.

I considered how likely my dog was to keep me safe and decided he would be pretty off putting.
But I shouldn't need a reactive dog to be safe.

@Wearywithteens

Im envious of all you carefree women. I’m a dumpy ‘invisible’ middle aged woman but I’m always alert and nervous. I have a family of lovely men but I don’t trust unknown males anywhere - even in a busy town - you just never know what is going through their mind and what they’re capable of. I’m aware that the risk is low but the consequences, if something happens, can be significant and devastating.

I do understand where you are coming from - though I think it is sad that you feel that way - but for me, the consequences of NOT walking freely and by myself in nature, in the beautiful area in which I live would be very significant too. Nature is my balm and my friend and the consequences for my mental health would be serious if I didnt get out and about. Besides, I have no male companion and even though I walk maybe once a week with a friend, that would be nowhere near enough for me.

Yes. I walk the dog alone in the daytime, often on the beach which tends to be busy but sometimes I go to woodland which is quite remote. It never used to bother me but it does a little more now, after what happened to Julia James. I understand the risk of being attacked somewhere like that in the daytime is incredibly small, but it’s more the thought that if it did happen, I’d be pretty vulnerable. I’m 5ft 3 and quite small. I am strong for my size but would not be a match for the average man. My dog is not the sort that would go for someone (although maybe he would surprise me if it came to it).

I also walk alone at night, eg home from a friend’s or from the pub (I live in a town). I don’t like it very much but I’m very bloody-minded so unlikely to stop doing it.

I do have a voice that can go exceptionally loud when needed so my best strategy would be to bellow my lungs out and sprint.