August 14th 2024.
I will never forget the terrifying experience I had on a train years ago when I lived in London. As a woman, I have always been aware of the potential danger of being alone with a man, but nothing could have prepared me for what I experienced that day.
I was sitting on a completely empty train carriage, lost in my book, when suddenly a man entered and sat across from me. I was immediately on edge, but I tried to brush it off and continue reading. However, my peace was soon shattered when he asked me, “Are you a virgin?” I was taken aback and confused, as I had not heard him enter the carriage and I thought I was alone. But there he was, staring at me with wild eyes.
When I didn’t answer, he repeated the question, this time standing up and coming towards me. I could see that he was unstable and dirty, and he was muttering to himself about having a gun and wanting to shoot me. In that moment, I realized that I was completely alone with a man who had threatened to kill me.
I tried to press the emergency alarm, but he reached me before I could do anything. Even if the train had stopped, I would still be trapped in a locked carriage with him. He pointed his shaking fingers at me like a gun and I could see pure evil in his eyes. It was the most scared I have ever been in my life.
As a woman, I have always been aware of the dangers of traveling alone, but it wasn’t until that moment that I truly felt my own mortality. Sadly, it doesn’t surprise me that violence against women on trains has risen by 50% in the last two years. In fact, I’m surprised it’s not even higher. Every woman I know has experienced some form of harassment or assault while using public transportation.
After my terrifying encounter, I refused to take the Underground alone. I would always try to plan my journeys with a male companion for protection. Eventually, this fear and lack of safety was one of the reasons why I decided to move out of London.
But my experience is not unique. It is a sad reality for many women, and it’s something we have been accustomed to for far too long. We are constantly aware of our surroundings, always looking over our shoulder, and constantly on guard. And yet, even with all of this, we are still not safe.
What happened to me is just one example of the countless incidents that happen to women every day. And the saddest part is that many of these incidents go unreported, either because of fear or a belief that it’s just a normal part of life as a woman.
The British Transport Police claims that the rise in reported incidents is due to more women speaking out. While I am relieved that more women are seeking help, it is distressing to see these statistics and realize that there are still so many women who don’t feel safe enough to come forward.
There needs to be more effective policing on public transport, especially during peak hours when incidents are most likely to occur. Stations need to have better CCTV coverage and more emergency alarms, and staff and drivers need to be trained to intervene and take action. If we don’t take action now, the number of attacks will only continue to rise.
As a society, we need to prioritize the safety of women on public transport. It shouldn’t be a luxury to feel safe while traveling, it should be a given. And yet, women are still in danger every day, simply because they are using public transportation.
We need to make a change and make it now. Let’s not wait for more dangerous men to disappear into the next carriage, let’s make our voices heard and demand safer transportation for all.
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