“Take back the streets” is a feminist slogan repeated every year, and in many places.It is a powerful reminder that in many parts of the world it is simply not safe for women to try to get home on foot after dark. CCTV cameras have made the streets safer, particularly in the UK which is reported to have more of them in city spaces than almost any other country. But most women are still fearful of finding themselves alone in public places after dark, perhaps due to some unexpected transport delay, or a failed meet-ups.
Some women in night jobs need to get home by public transport
Some women, of course, especially those who do office cleaning jobs or night shifts at local hospitals, may have to get home by public transport in hours of darkness especially in the winter. In big cities there are night buses, with groups of passengers waiting at the stops, people who often know each other from their routine commutes. But beyond the big city, in smaller towns or out to villages, there is no such night bus service. Night workers must either have cars to drive themselves, or partners to assist with transport.
Men don’t understand the fears of women
I don’t think men, who are mostly the ones who plan transport, really grasp the instinctive fears of women. Even on inter-city trains, well lit and warm, that may run up to midnight, I am fearful if I find I am the only one in a carriage in case some pestering or drunk male jumps on at the next station or if I find myself alone with several of such males. I also tend to take a taxi for the short walk home from the station, if it is after dark, and there are not enough people around in the street. Shocking murders in recent years, such as the killing of Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens, have made all women more wary of walking home alone.
A local march advertised for safer streets
So I went along to the local march in Ashford on March 9, which was advertised by a SAFER STREETS banner. I took a photo of one of the home-drawn banners (see above).The march was a good mixture of young and old, with the Green party also in evidence, helping with sound system and marshalling. The march finished at the Coachworks, which has a roofed area, stage and rough bench seating, enough for about 200 people.
Dances, songs and speeaches
The programme was a mixture of speeches and entertainment. Theatre Train, a local company offering courses for stagework, organised the songs and dancing by local teenagers. There were also performances by Nepalese folk dancers from the Gurkha community.
The Lady Major (Labour), Lynn Suddards, gave the introductory speech recalling earlier IWD celebrations. Other speakers were the Green Party parliamentary candidate, Mandi Rossi;Labour party councillor Sally Gathern, Blessing Bhero speaking about enterprise, and an Independent councillor who gave a comic speech about her dogs.
World designed and measured by men
The speech I most enjoyed, although it was quite long, was Sally’s account how much of the world is designed for men. She is 5ft 3 and says she often finds things the wrong height for her reach or comfort. It was so factful and amusing that I am going to try and get her to supply it as an article for our readers. Many female readers will identify with her complaints.
It is good that International Women’s Day can both ignite solidarity with women who suffer gross oppression in some parts of the world as well as bring us together in local events that will encourage girls to stick up for themselves and stick together! We need not be alone with our fears.
