At VIOLA we believe that public spaces belong to everyone, women included. Unfortunately, women are often threatened on the streets, therefore we feel anxiety or fear while walking them. While recognizing that this is a structural issue, and we as women should not be blamed for feeling this way, it is also important to learn some strategies that will help you feel better in the short term. The first thing you can do to best prepare yourself for a bad situation is to be informed. For women, the idea of being alone on a street at night is downright terrifying. Traveling in a group is always best, but sometimes you have no choice. You could be walking for five or thirty minutes, but it doesn’t change the stressful feeling of danger that a woman can get when it accidentally gets a little too late in the night and she has a solo journey ahead of her. I know I’ve experienced this feeling before, even in areas I’m extremely familiar with. Here are some strategies I like to keep in mind:
- Be aware of your surroundings.
When I’m walking alone, the last thing I want to do is allow myself to be distracted. It might feel like listening to music will make the walk seem shorter, but it allows you to lose focus. Even talking on your phone can be a big distraction. The primary danger in these distractions is not being aware of your surroundings. If I do want to talk to someone to virtually accompany me home, I’ll have them on speaker and won’t look at them. If I feel like seeing someone will make me feel safer, I use the VIOLA app to video call with VIOLA Supporters. Always have an idea of where you are and keep your eyes sharp for anything or anyone who looks out of the ordinary in your view. If you immediately don’t like the walk ahead of you, you can always ask someone to walk with you or meet you at a closer location.
- Look confident and casual.
Even if you don’t know the area you have to walk through, whether it’s alone during the day or night, look confident and casual. Projecting confidence through your body language and demeanor will make any threats less likely to target you. Also, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings, but look around casually and inconspicuously so that it’s not obvious you’re unsure of where you are. If I’m using any GPS or maps app on my phone, I like to glance at my screen, memorize the next direction, and then put it away. This helps me be more aware of my surroundings by not staring at my phone and also helps me pretend that I know where I am. A giveaway for someone in unfamiliar territory is a visible maps app on their phone.
- De-escalate the situation.
De-escalation is an important technique in a lot of emergencies. You can look up additional information about general de-escalation tactics, but in the circumstances of walking alone at night as a woman, I like to remember a few things. First, if the threat is not yet to my physical body, I’m not going to fight. If someone wants your phone or your purse, give it to them without a struggle. They’re more likely to leave you alone afterward. Second, it’s important to spot ways in which threats are trying to lure you into a fight.
- Learn self-defense techniques and carry personal safety devices.
To defend yourself if the threat is to your physical person, it’s smart to know self-defense and/or carry personal safety devices. This can entail enrolling in a self-defense class designed specifically for women. Grabs, chokes, and strikes are some techniques for defending against common attacks. Regarding personal safety devices, I like to carry an alarm in my purse so that I can draw a lot of attention to my location if I need to. However, it’s important to always properly train yourself in any devices you’re carrying, for example, pepper spray.
- Know your escape routes and safe havens.
Always be aware of potential escape routes and safe locations in your surroundings. It’s a good idea to know where you’re going to run if you need to run. Also, know where the nearest well-lit populated area is that you could get to in an emergency. Consider walking there, even if it is a longer route. In the back of my mind when I’m walking alone, I keep a mental note of where I can find people quickly, what direction I came from, and where my next move is.
Article by Ava Horn
