Tag: feminism

• From Tragedy to Transformation: The Fight for Women’s Safety

  

  Last week, in the Netherlands, a 17-year-old girl was murdered on her way home after a night out with friends. Aware that she was being followed, she called the emergency number and provided her exact location. Although a police car was dispatched immediately, it was too late. She was found in the bushes, violently murdered with numerous stab wounds.

  This incident unleashed a tremendous wave of shock and outrage within Dutch society. Politicians pledged to create new policies aimed at improving the safety of women and girls. A movement called “We Claim the Night”, based on the international movement “Reclaim the Night”, emerged, raising substantial funds through crowdfunding for a campaign to ensure women’s safety during the evenings and nights. Remembrance gatherings were held, and a moment of tribute was observed during soccer matches at the 17th minute, accompanied by applause to honor Lisa, the young victim.

  While I commend those who advocate for the safety of women and girls, I approach these initiatives with a degree of cynicism. The shock and outrage are genuine, yet the reality is that the safety of women and girls has been compromised for centuries. In modern times, the situation has not improved; if anything, women are just as vulnerable to violence as they were in 1610—perhaps even more so.

  I recently read The New Age of Sexism by Laura Bates, which I believe is essential reading for everyone. She provides a detailed account of how misogyny and violence against women have taken on new, dangerous dimensions in the digital age. Issues like gang rapes in the metaverse, deepfake pornography of women and children, and online sexual abuse in schools are on the rise. Tech companies are aware of these problems yet choose to remain inactive, allowing boys and men to believe that it’s acceptable to torment women. The behavior tolerated in the digital world is just as harmful to women and girls in the real world and, even worse, it serves as a learning curve for predators. Research shows that violent behavior towards women in the digital realm often foreshadows real-world violence.

  When publicly accessible sites allow revenge porn to flourish, where bitter men can share not just explicit photos of their ex-partners but also their addresses and personal information, it’s clear something is wrong in our society. When 13-year-old boys create and distribute deepfake nude images of their classmates, we must acknowledge fundamental issues in how boys are raised. Furthermore, the idea that it’s acceptable to mutilate sex doll robots to prevent violence against real women ignores the underlying aggressive tendencies these men exhibit, which may one day escalate to real-world violence.

  According to Laura Bates, major tech developers—often wealthy white men—are hesitant to implement safeguards for protecting women and girls from abhorrent behavior. They shift the responsibility onto women, expecting them to protect themselves. If something goes wrong, they are told to go to the police. Yet proactive measures to prevent bad behavior are not prioritized, as that would impact their revenue. Billions of dollars are generated from apps that facilitate deepfakes and AI-driven games where (predominantly male) users act without consequence, creating virtual worlds where women and minorities are mistreated.

  As we speak, a major tech company is building a metaverse, an alternate virtual world where we go to work, shop, go to school, and create social communities.  If tech companies indeed continue on this path, we may soon find ourselves living much of our lives in the metaverse, a rapidly expanding realm that lacks the foundation of equality and safety for its users. What kind of world will it be when we are forced to engage with it? It is not a world I want to inhabit.

  Our future AI world will likely amplify issues from our ‘real’ world, potentially leading to more violence against women and other minorities. Can moderators effectively filter out criminals? Will there be consequences for their actions? Will they be able to intervene in time to protect a woman in distress?

  Whether we inhabit our physical world or a virtual one, violence against women and minorities will not cease just because a few people pay attention during isolated incidents, like the tragic murder of a promising 17-year-old. We must care equally for the safety of nameless women in Sudan who face violent rape and murder, and for the 10-year-old girl in Spain whose fake nude photos circulate in her school. On a global scale, we need to teach boys and men that violence is unacceptable, that women possess rights, and that they deserve respect. Women with opinions or who stand up for themselves and others are not threats; they enrich our society. Women should be able to dress as they wish and walk through a park at night, confident that they will be valued and safe from harm.

  Will we ever fully eradicate hatred and violence toward women? I fear the answer is no, but we can reduce it. We must punish those who disregard fundamental rights and create a safer world than the one we currently inhabit or are heading toward. Achieving this requires courage, determination, and collaboration among lawmakers, politicians, influencers, tech leaders, the judicial system, and individuals alike – on a global level. Only then, perhaps, can Lisa’s legacy inspire a future where all women feel safe.

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  28 August 2025

  current affairs, feminism, gender, history, news, politics, reclaim the night, society, women, women’s safety, writing

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• Keys in Hand: The Reality of Women’s Safety After Dark

  

  This month, Dutch research bureau CBS (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek) published findings on gender differences in perceived safety. Almost half of the young female population (ages 15 to 25) report taking alternative routes home to avoid ‘unsafe places.’ Even among older women, the numbers remain substantial, with 30% of those aged 65 and up doing the same. Men, by comparison? Around 20%—across all age groups. In addition, 45% of all women say they fear becoming a crime victim in their own neighborhood.

  These numbers were considered newsworthy in the Netherlands, as they should be. When nearly half of the female population doesn’t feel safe in their own streets—and even change their route home to avoid danger—there’s a problem.

  Yet even acknowledging the severity of these statistics, I find them low. Most women I know don’t feel safe on the streets, especially in the dark or when walking alone. We know to keep our keys ready—for quick entry or as a weapon. We’re taught to yell “fire!” instead of “help!” because people are more likely to respond. We plan our routes, steer clear of tricky areas, let men pass when they’re behind us, glance into shop windows to check who’s nearby, and constantly assess risk. It’s second nature. Given all that, 45% feels like an understatement.

  That got me wondering—what are the numbers in other countries?

  According to Gallup’s 2023 Crime Survey, over 50% of women in the United States report feeling unsafe walking alone at night, compared to just 25% of men. Studies show that women tend to scan for dangers like bushes and dark corners, while men focus on the path ahead. In Great Britain, 63% of women feel unsafe walking alone at night, with the 18–25 age group scoring remarkably high at 81%. Parks and open spaces after dark? Around 80% of British women say they feel unsafe.

  In Germany, 48% of women feel unsafe in their own neighborhoods. In France, surveys show 54% of women feel unsafe walking alone at night. Australia sits at 40%. In India, a startling 79% of urban women report harassment or violence in public spaces, and Brazil tops the list with 89%.

  So what about Scandinavia—known for progressive gender policies and high levels of gender equality?

  In Sweden, 34% of women say they feel unsafe walking alone at night. In Denmark, that number is 22%, and Norway reports just 13%. On an emotional level, any percentage is too high, but statistically speaking, women in Scandinavia perceive less danger than those in the rest of Europe, the U.S., or the Global South. Why?

  Many government reports point to cultural and societal norms. In countries with entrenched patriarchal structures and gender inequality—like India and Brazil—harassment and violence are more frequent. Even in places with legal gender equality, such as Western Europe and North America, underlying cultural attitudes still shape both violence and the fear it instills.

  This theory may explain Scandinavia’s relatively low fear levels, where women enjoy both legal rights and cultural equality. According to The Perspective, Northern European women have higher trust in law enforcement and stronger support systems. This encourages reporting and reduces anxiety. When you believe the police will take you seriously—and the courts will hold attackers accountable—you naturally feel safer. It may also discourage violence in the first place.

  That said, Scandinavia isn’t without contradictions. The so-called ‘Nordic Paradox’ refers to the relatively high rate of intimate partner violence in these countries despite their strong gender equality. Some researchers suggest that female empowerment can provoke backlash from entrenched masculinity norms. A girl just can’t catch a break.

  “Creating equality for women doesn’t mean diminishing men’s worth.” — Equality isn’t a zero-sum game

  The Path Forward

  Can public policy help shift these numbers? In theory, yes. Governments have invested in safer infrastructure—better lighting, expanded CCTV—and educational efforts that promote respect and gender equality. Safety charters, community patrols, and venue staff training programs have all been introduced. While these efforts have raised awareness, many studies show that actual safety statistics haven’t improved much.

  The truth is this: female safety—at home and in public—is a real issue. Statistically, crime against women is substantial. These realities fuel the fear women feel, especially in quiet areas and after dark. That fear isn’t irrational—it’s based on experience, and often passed down from mother to daughter. We’re taught early on to fear sexual assault, physical violence, and emotional abuse. By the time we’re grown, it’s second nature. We don’t like it, we don’t accept it, but we’ve learned to live with it.

  So here’s my question to societies around the world: when we hold the next baby girl in our arms, do we really want the first message she receives to be one of fear? To be afraid of the dark, afraid of strangers, afraid to walk through her neighborhood alone? To be afraid of the world for the rest of her life?

  Not in my world.

  “You are beautiful, you are smart, and you are worthy of a life without fear.” — What every girl deserves to hear

  In my world, we say: you are beautiful, you are smart, and you are worthy of a life without fear. We teach boys that empowering girls doesn’t mean shrinking themselves. We teach men that love and respect are stronger than hate and violence. And we push governments to act when violence does occur—to prosecute, to protect, and to prevent. We aim for a world where keys are meant for opening doors and not as weapons.

  We refuse to accept anything less.

  Who wants to join me in my world?

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  22 July 2025

  crime against women, current affairs, Europe, feminism, gender, gender-equality, news, politics, society, women, women’s safety

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