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Community gathers to ‘light the path’ towards women’s safety in public spaces
Tiny LED candles illuminated the pathway to the Castle Park bandstand on Saturday evening, as a small group gathered for an event on women’s safety in public spaces.
The fierce sound of the rain was muffled as women read poetry and sang songs at the ‘Light the Path’ event organised by Bristol Women’s Voice.
“We carry, we cry, we scream, the silence of a thousand women”, said Willow Vidal-Hall from Bristol Women’s Voice, as she concluded reading her poetry.
Tessa & Persephone are both students and hope to raise more awareness about what everyone can do for women’s safety in public spaces
Willow’s poetry was one of many read out on the evening, aimed at using creativity as a means of raising awareness for women’s safety in public spaces.
“We want to start a conversation,” said Katy Taylor. “We just ask people to stop and think, think about how they can take action.”
Emma Gregg, a sexual assault survivor, said the event was a way for her to “advocate for women”.
She added: “I’m hoping to get some content for my social media to show other survivors that life doesn’t stop because you’ve been assaulted and failed by the police.
“To show that we can all make a change if we stand together: that’s everyone, male and female.”
She added that the issue was causing fear not only among females, but everyone.
“I have a 19-year-old son. He’s scared to go out, and that was even before what happened to me.
“Especially in Bristol, the knife crime at the moment and the violence against women and young people has got quite big.
“Doing this tonight, in the dark, is a big message to people.”
The group gathered inside the Castle Park bandstand as young women read poetry and sang songs
A leaflet handed out during the event details the steps of bystander intervention that anybody can use to take action when they notice something amiss in a public space.
Member of Bristol Women’s Voice and a student, Tessa Smith said: “These are things that anyone can do if they see anything, even if it’s strangers.
“It is to try to empower women to stand up for themselves and for other women, but also for strangers to be confident and to step in.”
The steps of intervention categorise possible actions into four categories: direct, distract, delegate, document and delay. From simple actions like recording something you see for evidence, or checking in with someone you think seems to be in an uncomfortable situation, the leaflet explains little things everyone can do to make a difference.
A leaflet by Bristol Women’s Vice explains steps that anyone can take to intervene and ensure women’s safety in public spaces
“Everyone wants women and everyone else to be safe, but not everyone knows how and what to do when they see something that just feels not quite right,” added Katy.
“Part of our purpose, our goal, is to draw on the community connections, but also to enhance community confidence – to intervene, to keep us all safe.”
Katy said that planning spaces through a gender lens will help install key features for safety.
She said: “If you look at urban design through a feminist lens, you make it better for everyone.
“Thinking about women’s safety, it will involve things like lots of street lights, having places to rests nd having public toilets.
“I think Castle Park is being redesigned at the moment, and I’m hopeful that safety concerns are going to be heard. Looking at urban design through a gender lens is the most useful thing the council can do.
“When you’re doing any development, have that gender, have the equality lens and build that stuff in from the design from the beginning.”
All photos: Karen Johnson
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