How Can Men Make Women Feel Safer in an Unsafe World?

We have tough lessons to learn and a big picture to focus on

I recently wrote an article about how much solo hiking has helped improve my mental health. Getting out into nature, being surrounded by beauty, and soaking in all the health benefits of fresh air and sunshine has reinvigorated me.

And the best part has been the positive interactions with fellow hikers I meet along the way. Having a job where you see the worst of people all day long can really mess with your ability to have any sense of optimism about humanity. Being exposed to the rampant misogyny in our culture every day and the men who uphold it is hard on the soul. And understanding how easy it’s been made to proliferate, thanks to social media, is so discouraging. (To say the least.)

It isn’t easy for women to go out into the world, particularly alone. It doesn’t matter where — the woods, the city… There is no truly safe place for us.

And when we do decide to go out and live our lives, to take the risk — a risk that should not exist, by the way — many men still claim not to understand. Truthfully, I was astounded that a few commenters congratulated me for facing my “anxiety” and doing something out in the real world instead of just sitting here “complaining” about men online. I know I shouldn’t be surprised. Honestly, when will I learn?

Some men got it, though. Some men listened to me and are listening to the women in their lives. They understand that if so many of us are scared to be around men, to walk past men when we’re alone in a parking lot or on a hiking trail, there’s a goddamn reason.

On occasion, those men lament about the burden of walking around in the world knowing how their presence affects women. Knowing that they are seen as a potential threat. Knowing that they cannot engage in any kind of social connection with women in public without having to navigate that tricky space.

And some take it one step further, asking me what they can do about it. In fact, one male reader recently asked me: “How can I avoid triggering these fears?”

The simple answer is: You can’t. I’m sorry. I know that’s disappointing.

Related posts:

Before the opening bell, Wall Street anticipates Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE: FL) to announce quarterly profits of $1.37 per share on revenue of $2.12 billion. In after-hours trading, Foot Locker shares…

When you find yourself in a roadside emergency, such as a flat tire, a dead battery, or a vehicle breakdown, it’s crucial to have a reliable Towing Hackettstown NJ service at your disposal. Choosing…

React context hook can help simplify the ‘props chain’ situation where we have cross-component states and need to pass them using props through several layers of components without actually needing…