How Public Spaces Trap Women in a Real-Life Dystopia. Unveiling the Constant Policing of Female Freedom.
When women step outside their homes, they join an unseen web where every street, park, and path becomes a complicated landscape of surveillance, a constant threat to their liberty and a war for our peace of mind.
Casual catcalls, lingering stares, and demands to “smile more” are the ongoing, gradual erosion of our feeling of security and belonging. Women learn to monitor for threats, clutch their keys like weapons, and take routes based on feelings of safety rather than convenience or freedom. The very air we breathe outdoors feels charged with judgment and potential harm.
Many people regard going outside as a simple act of freedom. But for women, it’s frequently the first step towards a scary, compulsory contract with a prevalent, everyday dystopia. The constant male gaze, unwelcome comments, and unsettling undertone of potential violence weave unseen threads across women’s lives.
Consider this: according to a UN Women UK survey from 2021, 71% of women of all ages in the UK had experienced sexual harassment in public. This figure rose to 85% among young women aged 18 to 24.
Even our attempts at leisure activities are turned into a minefield. A woman out for a run isn’t just exercising; she’s navigating an environment of potential harassment, with her clothing scrutinised and her body declared public property for criticism.
According to a University of Manchester research published in February 2024, two-thirds of women who run in Greater Manchester and Merseyside have been subjected to some type of abuse, such as verbal insults, being followed, or even physical attack. One runner reported having items hurled at her from cars. This constant vigilance changes what should be a freeing activity into a battle of endurance against outside harm. The simple act of existing in a public park, enjoying a moment of peace, can be shattered by intrusive questions or aggressive advances.
In June 2021, the Office for National Statistics reported that 81% of women felt frightened or extremely unsafe walking alone after dark in a park or other open place, compared to 39% of males. Women are encouraged to “be careful,” “don’t go out alone,” and “dress appropriately,” putting the burden of safety on women rather than confronting the perpetrators of this widespread pain.
The psychological toll of this hidden web is significant. It promotes a state of hypervigilance, a persistent low hum of anxiety that never goes away. We internalise the unsaid standards, self-censoring our motions, wardrobe choices, and even our physical presence. Fear limits our’s freedom of movement, resulting in self-restrictions.
This extensive policing of public space and activities not only restricts women’s physical freedom, but minimises their world, compelling us to live in a smaller, more regulated environment. It’s clear: for women, leaving your home means entering a dystopian reality where the subtle, repressive threads of the unseen web continuously attempt to trap our right to exist freely in public.
