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After the three recent, seemingly random sexual assaults in Ashland, one taking place in broad daylight, a creeping fear has begun to spread among the city’s inhabitants, especially women. Don’t walk alone. Don’t be careless. They’re still out there, waiting.
“Due to the assaults, police are encouraging women to walk in well lit areas, stay on main roads and travel with another person when possible,” advises the police and the Daily Tidings.
For how long, I ask? Until the assailants have been caught? If they’re caught? Will their arrests cause Ashland to heave a great sigh of relief that all evil men have been removed from this otherwise pure, safe, and fair town? Should I cling to a male escort or travel in a group of skittish, nervous women just at night, or during all hours of the day?
Apparently, if I was rational and as scared of being attacked as I should be, I would be terrified to travel independently on foot. But I’m not. I walk everywhere in Ashland, most of the time by myself. I walk to campus during the day and I walk great lengths at night too. And you know what? I refuse to be afraid. I refuse to cease my pedestrian rights because I am a woman, and therefore more “vulnerable.” I refuse to fall prey to fear. I think that living in terror of those morally inept, animalistic criminals is another way they win.
Want to hear some statistics? One in six women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. And 73 percent of the time it’s by someone they know. That last one makes the streets feel a little less scary, doesn’t it? In this sick world, some people tend to blame the victim. Some people say “she was asking for it for dressing that way or for drinking too much,” or “she should’ve known better than to walk alone that late!” The fact that we accept that some men are monsters and rapists, and then turn around and scorn the victim is truly sickening. There is nothing acceptable about this. Maybe this is why most women don’t even report their sexual assault.
I’m pissed off that I need to be more worried than my male peers about walking in Ashland. I’m not saying women shouldn’t have a heightened sense of awareness when walking alone at night. Despite my anger and disbelief that sexual assaults actually happen in this town, I think carrying mace or any other self defense item is a good idea if it lessens your fear of being by yourself, or aides you in the rare case of being assaulted. By all means, be aware of what’s going on around you. Keep your phone on you. Be prepared to kick ass if need be. But don’t cower behind locked doors, and don’t live in excessive paranoia. Do what you want, and don’t ever stop walking in this beautiful town. Life’s too short to play by their rules.
