In light of what has sadly happened to Sarah Everard and the discourse currently being played out in the media, KC wanted to provide a variety of resources, articles, advice and guidance to allow our staff, students, friends and family to start the conversation about women’s, non-binary, trans-women’s, trans-femme’s safety in public.

This week, a survey for UN Women UK found that almost all young women in the UK – 97% of 18- to 24-year-olds – have been sexually harassed; almost none reported it.

These are our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, our nieces, our aunts, our friends. It’s time to start the conversation. 

The way to evoke change is all about education and conversation, it’s about talking, listening, relating and questioning yourself and what you can do to improve matters. Here are two poignant videos on the topic of women’s safety.

Please also take a look at Jamie Windust’s video over on Instagram addressing the violence often experienced by the trans-community. 

“Women shouldn’t have to plan carefully chosen, well-lit routes when walking home. Women shouldn’t have to carry their keys between their fingers as their only way of self defence. Women shouldn’t have to text their friends the details of their route home ‘in case something happens’.

Women should be able to walk home at 9:30pm without fear of attack or harm. Women should be able to walk down a street without crossing the road because they feel uncomfortable about the person walking towards them. Women should be able to walk home without staying on the phone to a loved one so they feel protected.

It is never okay to question why a woman is walking by herself at night. We walk by ourselves at night because we are people and we should live in a society where we feel safe and secure.

The people being questioned should be the people that make others disappear. The people that follow women down a street. The people who shout things at women as they pass, making them feel intimidated and scared. Why should these people be able to dictate how safe a woman feels while she’s simply trying to make her way home?

Sarah Everard’s case has hit a chord with so many women, it’s our worst nightmare realised.” – Glamour Magazine

“No, not all men, but too many.’ Too many me, for some reason, feel entitled to women and marginalised gender’s bodies. Too many men, whether through action or inaction, are perpetuating a culture of sexism that breeds inequality and that leads to violence.. And if you want to use the phrase ‘Not all men’, how about we use it like this? ‘Not all men are calling out their friends when he says something to a woman he would never say to a guy. Not all men are looking up these phrases, learning what rape culture really is, how misogyny operates. And no, not all men are perpetrators, of course they’re not. But the ones who aren’t should be solving this with us. Because maybe if they were, we’d be living in a. Society where when I talk to guys or male politicians about sexual violence, they want to solve it with me more than they want to prove that they’re not the problem.’

– Gina Martin.

We can stand together, regardless of gender or how we identify.

We can research, learn and call-out behaviour.

We change our patterns, become more informed, provide support.

We can be humans. Together.

Credit – @wellbeingwithrose

For Women To Feel Safe in Public Spaces, Men’s Behaviour Has to Change

Women Tell Men How To Make Them Feel Safe After Sarah Everard Disappearance

27 Things Women Do to Stay Safe that Men Will Never Have To Do

Without Safety, There Can Be No Equality

Please email marketing@kidderminster.ac.uk if you have come across any useful, educational and relevant articles so that we can continue to add to these resources.

With it coming to light that 97% of all women have been subjected to sexual harassment at some point in their life, here are a list of charities and organisations that  you can contact:

There is always someone available at Kidderminster College for you to talk to. Whether it be a member of our safeguarding team or a member of staff. Please always know, we are here to listen.

• Women’s Aid
• Rape Crisis
• Womankind Worldwide
• LGBTQ+ Foundation