In the wake of the death of Sarah Everard, a "Good Guy’s Guide" has been published to give men tips and pointers on how they can help women feel safer when walking the streets.
Everard, a 33-year-old London resident, disappeared on March 3, after walking home from a friend's house in Clapham back to her home in Brixton.
Her remains were later discovered by police investigators in a woodland area in Kent, and 48-year-old Wayne Couzens has since been charged with her murder.
Everard's disappearance coincided with a startling YouGov poll that found that 97% of women in the UK between the ages of 18-24 had been sexually harassed.
This provoked a nationwide conversation about the safety of women, and how men can ensure that women feel safe and secure while in public spaces.
As a result, communications group M&C Saatchi London has teamed with the non-profit Solace Women’s Aid and inclusivity group Token Man to create the Good Guy’s Guide, which aims to educate and instruct men on how they can make women feel safer.
The seven rules of the guide are as follows:
"1: Don't approach her. - You might just want to ask for a lighter or for directions, but any interaction can be intimidating. So, if you can see she is safe, avoid talking to her.
"2: Don't walk behind her. - You might just be walking home, but she can feel like she’s being followed.
"3: Cross the street. - Give her as much room as possible. Stay where she can see you and show you’re going somewhere.
"4: Hood down, hands out. - Making your face and hands visible helps her know you’re not trying to hide anything.
"5: Don't run close to her. - Or if you’re jogging or cycling past a woman, make sure you always call ahead saying 'left' or 'right' so you don’t surprise her.
"6: Talk on the phone.- Show her you’re doing your own thing and call up a friend. When she can hear you, she knows where you are and feels more in control of the situation.
"7: Educate your mates. - They are good guys too. Share this guide and let’s make the streets feel safer for everyone."
A tweet from the creators reads: "A lot needs to be done before women are safe on the streets.
"But there are things you can change in your behavior right now to let her know you’re an ally. Share the #goodguysguide and let’s make the streets feel safer for everyone."
Meanwhile, a description on the guide's official website states: "YOU ARE A GOOD GUY. But the woman walking alone on the street doesn’t know that.
"So, we created a set of simple actions you can take to help her feel safer. A lot needs to be done before women are safe on the streets. But you can do these things right now."
It's clear that there is a significant gap between how safe the sexes feel when outdoors.
Recent data gleaned from the European Social Survey found that 32% of women in the United Kingdom feel unsafe or very unsafe when walking alone at night, compared with a mere 13% of men.
