If you are alive today and you do not understand how unsafe women feel almost all of the time, you are not really awake. The reality is that one in three women experience physical or sexual violence. Chances are every woman you know has some story, whether she was groped in a bar or raped by a partner or followed home at night. It happens all the time. Everywhere. More than you know.
Women are constantly restricted by a society that has normalized violence against them. It is time for that to stop. And one of the ways to start that fight is to make it known just how unsafe women feel in our world. To share the everyday experiences that have become normal for women everywhere, from carrying mace to walking with your keys between your fingers to rushing to your car while looking over your shoulder. These are normal. But they should not be.
A civil rights activist, Danielle Muscato, posed this question on Twitter:
Ladies, a question for you: "What would you do if all men had a 9pm curfew?" Dudes: Read the replies and pay atte… https://t.co/DCf3VBKngS— Danielle Muscato (she/her) (@Danielle Muscato (she/her))1537907633.0
Taking a walk in the dark
@DanielleMuscato @DLChamplin I’d go for a walk in the dark without leaping out of my skin at little noises. Just th… https://t.co/cGLkABivkG— Emma Smart (@Emma Smart)1537908960.0
Hammock in the park
@DanielleMuscato @hollidewees A close friend of mine told me she would love to go string up a hammock in the park a… https://t.co/mcr8CkXFZH— Benjamin Young Savage (ᐱᓐᒋᐱᓐ) (@Benjamin Young Savage (ᐱᓐᒋᐱᓐ))1538521227.0
Public transit
It's hard to think about how restricted women's lives are because we can't safely partake in simple things like this. Think about how our professional and personal lives are affected.Take a peaceful walk
Once it's dark out, no matter how well a woman knows the area, she is immediately on guard. I know because I am a woman!Drinks with girlfriends
Can you imagine not being afraid to leave a bar late at night? Not being worried about getting home safe? Yeah, me neither.Hang out
@DanielleMuscato I'd go to the bathroom without worrying that someone was drugging my drink. I'd go out dancing wi… https://t.co/rH3dd3s976— 🥨You Ruin Everything🥨 (@🥨You Ruin Everything🥨)1537910358.0
Taking out the recycling
@DanielleMuscato I'd walk my recycling down to the bin at the far end of my apartment complex, which I started to d… https://t.co/uWyf6Sgqzl— Jolie Lindley (@Jolie Lindley)1538330992.0
Taking out the garbage
@DanielleMuscato @WhatDoBirdsEat I would take out the garbage without bringing my dog and being vigilant of every p… https://t.co/eVY83AQrZW— Grace Savoy-Burke (@Grace Savoy-Burke)1537972359.0
Grab what you forgot in your car
@DanielleMuscato Things I would do if all men had a 9pm curfew : Go on a long walk Feel safe enough to fill up on g… https://t.co/pA11DdfoNc— Joanie Brosas on OnlyFans #BLACKLIVESMATTER (@Joanie Brosas on OnlyFans #BLACKLIVESMATTER)1538528385.0
Sitting on the porch
@DanielleMuscato Not rush to my car and lock my door immediately when I get in. Not hold my keys as a weapon or ha… https://t.co/D6WEjJEV98— Nichole Weikel (@Nichole Weikel)1538531701.0
Protecting your aughters
@DanielleMuscato I would not feel a constant level of anxiety when my daughters are out of my sight. I would give t… https://t.co/CqyKNVUNjW— Kimberly McMichael (@Kimberly McMichael)1538579285.0
Shopping
@DanielleMuscato Omg. What wouldn't I do? Go running. Shopping - I'd do SO. MUCH. SHOPPING. I'd go to bars with fri… https://t.co/6tapeZBqPe— Kate (@Kate)1538528506.0
Getting gas at night
Once I got gas very early in the morning and was alone. A strange man came up to me and stood and stared at me while the pump was running. I didn't know what to do. He didn't do anything, but he could have.Sports bar
@DanielleMuscato I would go to a sports bar and watch late baseball games without men asking, “so you even know who… https://t.co/gROF5iZgw9— Jordan Noller - (@Jordan Noller -)1538539321.0
Winter
@DanielleMuscato I would take night walks under the full moon along the lake, early morning jaunts to see the beav… https://t.co/XQ8v8Nzugc— Sydny Carter is getting vaccinated. (@Sydny Carter is getting vaccinated.)1538530645.0
Riding bikes
@DanielleMuscato Ride my bike on the beach path without having to be a speeding vigilante on the look out for muggers or rapists.— Janice ♏️ (@Janice ♏️)1538591090.0
Central Park
@DanielleMuscato Central Park. My heart leaps at the thought.— Laura M. (@Laura M.)1538533360.0
Drink and dance
@DanielleMuscato I would drink as much as I want and dance (my fave thing to do in world) freely with my friends on… https://t.co/YFuEVllCb8— michelemunz (@michelemunz)1538575991.0
Heels at night
@DanielleMuscato 1. Wear heels at night knowing it wouldn't matter that I can't run in them. 2. Wear headphones whe… https://t.co/s4Lrq9pWQc— Emily Chard (@Emily Chard)1538570247.0
The mind reels
Oh my god. The mind reels. Go dancing? Take a walk? Open the front door without fear? https://t.co/v66MM38Btf— Emily L. Hauser אלה אסתר (@Emily L. Hauser אלה אסתר)1538343104.0
Taking pictures at night
@DanielleMuscato It's a situation so liberating that my mind goes blank with the endless possibilities rushing into… https://t.co/d3Ee3IFOXY— Ankita Dash (@Ankita Dash)1538569503.0
The beach at night
Sit on the beach at night. https://t.co/MEAMr4R91I— enthusiastiKAYLI (@enthusiastiKAYLI)1538388526.0
Walk around the city
I'd walk a city in peace. https://t.co/EhnQY2JI2T— Sonja Yoerg (@Sonja Yoerg)1538062174.0
Spontaneity
Imagine how different ALL of my life would have been. So much freedom! All the places I would enjoy on my own, and… https://t.co/y0LOkQX4OE— Christina Eliason (@Christina Eliason)1538360365.0
Run at night
I'd run at night. I 👏 would 👏 run 👏 so 👏 much 👏 at 👏 night 👏 https://t.co/ToE2odrFAq— Katie Riley (@Katie Riley)1538392193.0
Walk everywhere
This is an essential thread. Read these replies. Me, I'd walk everywhere. I'd grocery shop late at night when it'… https://t.co/41Ccard8LA— Leslie Poston 🏳️🌈 (@Leslie Poston 🏳️🌈)1538328377.0
Earbuds in
Run with both earbuds in, AT NIGHT. Not cross the road to the other sidewalk. I wouldn't worry about keeping my pho… https://t.co/bnbRFqUSNO— Karma Brown (@Karma Brown)1538062256.0
Watch the sunrise
I would go for runs in the winter in the morning or evening, travel more by myself, watch the sunrise in the South… https://t.co/90MhrQFMux— Niki Faber 🇪🇺 (@Niki Faber 🇪🇺)1538657793.0
Everything
@DanielleMuscato Everything.— Nina Jo TuneSmith (@Nina Jo TuneSmith)1538463781.0