Member-only story
What’s second nature to them, we’ve never even considered.
I Didn’t Know Women Do These Things to Stay Safe Daily — Most Men Don’t See It
Women survive. Men stroll. That needs to change.
It was the first time we went out on a date. We were walking back to her car after dinner. It was not even late, only 6:30 PM. It was still light outside.
She did not unlock the car until we were literally only feet away, quickly opened the driver door, looked inside, locked the door the second she sat down, and checked the back seat. When she started the engine, I finally noticed her let out a slow breath.
I asked her why she did all that. She said, “Habit.”
Except it wasn’t a habit. It was fear. Fear that was practiced, rehearsed, and silent. She was not preparing for inconvenience. She was preparing for survival.
And I, then a 19-year-old man, thought I understood people well, suddenly realized how little I had grasped about the reality of life for the women around me every day.
This is not a horror story. This is their Tuesday. And most of us men have no idea.
