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?

I think this is definitely a feminist issue, because it is about how we as women internalise not just what we may have experienced of male violence, but also what we have heard.

From a very young age I have walked on my own, starting at around 10 in the countryside. I am not sure that nowadays many families would allow that. Not sure if there is a higher incidence of lone females of any age being attacked nowadays, but through mass media we hear about it.

In my mind, although I love the long summer evenings, I also associate it as a time of year when young girls get snatched off the street.

So what I find is that I will set off, not just walking locally but making a special trip to walk somewhere, and then (usually when I am at the furthest point from anywhere or anyone) it will creep into my head that I am maybe a bit vulnerable. And what was a carefree outing is undermined

Even if the statistics for stranger violence in the outdoors against women maybe low, it doesn't mean that it cant happen. And I suspect undereported.

And this is what I hate.

That I cant just on a whim go for a walk or special trip without at some point, have a part of me think how safe is this for a woman on their own?

And like someone said up thread, I am concerned that because of lockdown, I may have lost the habit of taking myself off, or planning a long walk.

Yes, even after a night duty but am careful about the route I take and am vigilant. I realise that doesn't mean it can't (won't) happen if someone was determined to attack me.
I do feel that if women stop walking at night it will make it more unsafe so I will continue as long as I feel safe.
Some people are not happy with my decision (not family) but that's them projecting their fears on me. I don't have a problem with that nor for those that say they won't but don't think it will stop me.

I balanced the risks with my need for adventure when I went to Morocco alone. Wandered the souks, haggled with traders and ate alone in cafes.

Loved it. I appreciate that I'm an older woman who doesn't attract the attention I did in my youth though.

I don’t walk alone unless I’m in a town or village or city. Definitely wouldn’t in the woods near us.

But look at Sarah Everard, it’s no guarantee of safety. It’s so depressing.

Yes. I always have. And travelled alone. Including in rougher areas - sticking to busy routes.

Round here is statistically safer than most areas, so I have no issue walking alone when no one else is about. I may not go that far in other areas, but I'm damned if I'm going to worry about it where I live.

I walk home on my own after dark in my city, but I sometimes feel nervous, and sometimes keep my keys clenched into my fist just in case. And then I hate that I feel nervous.

I love walking alone in the countryside during the daytime, something I've done a lot more over the past 2 yrs, and I never feel nervous then.

@Gatehouse77

Yes, even after a night duty but am careful about the route I take and am vigilant. I realise that doesn't mean it can't (won't) happen if someone was determined to attack me. I do feel that if women stop walking at night it will make it more unsafe so I will continue as long as I feel safe. Some people are not happy with my decision (not family) but that's them projecting their fears on me. I don't have a problem with that nor for those that say they won't but don't think it will stop me.

I think there is something in what you say, the fewer women out walking on their own, the fewer women you'll have out walking on their own. I want to resist that culture of fear for my own sake but also so that other women, including my daughter, have the confidence to be out there too. We own and have a right to go about freely in our world just as much as any man. We need to continually claim and reclaim that right

Sorry for starting the conversation and then disappearing! Work got kinda bonkers. It’s been really interesting to read all the replies. I think like many I always have walked alone, with the dogs, travelling the world solo, and obviously I have been harassed and even assaulted/attacked a few times actually but just always brushed it off/wasn’t that serious. Just for some reason today, thinking about the high profile murders recently, and I guess getting older and realising I’m less physically able to run away/fight someone off. I suddenly felt vulnerable.

I really don’t want to let it stop me though.

In my experience (in my rural, heavily forested, local area) it is elderly people who seem to be at the highest risk of being attacked whilst walking alone.

In the 10+ years I have lived here we have had 3 very serious incidents: 2 muggings requiring hospitalisation and 1 murder. All the victims were elderly men walking busy, well-trodden routes in the middle of the day and within close proximity of the roads.

Now I’m sure a lot of assaults, particularly rape, never get reported but you have to go back to the 1980s before any well-known incidents involving women are mentioned (an elderly woman in this case). This helps create a perception locally that the forests are safe places for women and so lots of us walk alone which, in turn, makes them feel even safer.

I walk home alone at night a few times a week. A couple of times I've had a few incidents is the wrong word really, more potential, maybe unfounded but maybe not "scares" but luckily so far it's been OK.

I stick to main roads and hope for the best.

I'm.jot paying 3.50 a time for a taxi when by the time it's arrived I could he half way home.

Yes but not isolated areas.