Running scared: Why women’s safety requires more than just awareness

Being a woman carries many meanings around the world, depending on context, culture, society, and gender-related policies. 

For me, being a woman has a Mexican connotation. Growing up in Guadalajara, the second-largest city in Mexico — and one rife with insecurity — I understood from a young age that my reality was not the same as that of boys. 

I couldn’t go out to play alone in the street. If I wanted to go to the park, I had to be accompanied by my parents. 

“We have to go with you, if not, the robachicos will take you,” my dad would tell me. 

Six-year-old Vianney didn’t understand exactly what a robachico (child kidnapper) looked like, but she was afraid of being taken by one.

As I grew up, the fear didn’t go away — it transformed.

Now, I’m afraid to take the bus, to walk alone, to run in parks, and to exercise — something I’m very fond of.

When the opportunity to study in Canada came, I was excited, in part, for the freedom and independence that my country could not offer me. Soon after I arrived, I was thrilled to find an athletic field in a park only two blocks from my home. I thought I would finally be able to exercise on my own. 

Then, I realized that anxiety had crossed the border with me. I constantly check to see if someone is behind me, I don’t wear headphones, and I try to stay as aware as possible. I can’t help but wonder, “If I’m technically in a safer country, then why am I still afraid of running alone?”

In 2023, Adidas released a study titled “The Ridiculous Run,” which explains how women adopt measures that, to some, may seem absurd — wearing loose clothing, running with someone they trust, and choosing specific times of day. But these measures, for women, are crucial to avoid becoming victims of physical or verbal harassment while running. 

According to the study, 69 per cent of women take these precautions, and 92 per cent fear for their safety when they run. Unfortunately, 38 per cent have reported being a victim of some kind of aggression.

Running is supposed to be good for physical and emotional health, so it’s hard to understand how something so simple has to be so strategic for women.

Among men, 62 per cent of respondents recognize the problem women face. However, only 18 per cent believe the responsibility lies most with men to help women feel safe when running. So, who has the responsibility for ensuring our safety?

In Vancouver on April 3, 2009, a 53-year-old woman named Wendy Ladner-Beaudry was found dead in Pacific Spirit Regional Park near the University of British Columbia. She had been attacked while jogging on what was described as a sunny morning. Fifteen years later, no one has been found guilty of the killing.

For me, the answer lies with the collective. We cannot expect governments to create public policies or put precautionary measures in place for every trail and street. Yes, those policies and measures are important — they must exist and be updated according to circumstances — but there also needs to be community effort, especially from men, to create safe spaces for women. 

Running should not mean being subjected to lewd looks, unsolicited compliments, or, worse, physical aggression. It requires understanding boundaries and the importance of consent while fostering a culture where women can feel safe and empowered to run freely without fear of harassment.

At the end of the day, being a woman should mean having freedom, integrity, and a guarantee of security — no matter the context.