Whatever you think about the fall time change–on the blog, historically speaking–Tracy is a fan and I’m not. Short version–Tracy cares more about the morning light and me, because of a cornea condition which means I can’t see much in the dark, I feel grounded by very early evening sunset.
But neither of us considered our physical safety that much in our for and against arguments. Lots of women do. Many university and college students feel like the dark is a curfew for safety reasons. And 5 pm is awfully early to be home for the night. See Daylight saving time means potential danger for women.
A number of stories about darkness and women’s safety made their way into my newsfeed this week, though the first one–focusing on what men can do–is my favorite.
Men, this is how you can make women feel safer now clocks have gone back
“For many people, the annual changing of the clocks comes with the short-term win of ‘gaining an hour’. Our mornings become lighter and, in return, comes a darker afternoon. But, for many women, this is a not a good thing. Sunset at around 4.30pm means that the ‘safety blanket’ of daylight shortens. Whether it’s after work, post school-run, or otherwise, the already-constrained window of time for a walk or run is squeezed even tighter. This Girl Can is a nationwide campaign from Sport England to build women and girls’ confidence to be active. Over the years, we’ve given numerous interviews advising women how to exercise safely after dark. But we’re not doing that anymore – because it is not our behaviour that needs to change. Instead, we’re calling on men to consider how they can make women feel safer if they’re getting active in winter.”
Scared to run alone? Safety tips from women runners
Five women share their fears of running at night
If you’re lucky enough to live in San Antonio, there’s this: 5 San Antonio parks where it feels safe to run after dark
There’s a lot to unpack here, especially as you link to an article from the Daily Illini- a student paper from the University town where I work.
Champaign-Urbana an historically-segregated city, policed in a way that actively harms our Black community, and has a university that is statistically dangerous for women because of assaults committed on campus facilities (the Greek system – somehow that doesn’t make it into that article…)
But we are a state school that draws income from students from “North of Chicago” suburbs, and there is a whole, complicated language around reassuring white parents that they can send their kids here.
I’ve run and cycled here – often at night – for over a decade and the only significant harassment or assault I’ve experienced has been on campus, from students. And this is why I can’t but cringe at articles like this.
If Chadwick and Karen’s parents would like to pay taxes for better campus transit and lighting in heavily used buildings – good on them! But I just can’t stand those people telling me that my community is dangerous because of what their students are doing.
Frankly speaking – white people’s fear gets us more police, and they don’t go after the people who hurt women going for runs.
And learn Kiwane Carrington’s name if you think this doesn’t matter to the people who live here: https://will.illinois.edu/21stshow/program/community-members-reflect-10-years-after-police-shooting