Since 2023, in the "Women After Dark WAD" series, we are committed to sharing testimonies and experiences of how cities keep failing women in the dark. In our Dark Research for WAD, we collected responses from our network and beyond in all over the world.
Every night out carries its own set of calculations for women—routes are chosen not for shortest distance but for well-lit streets, populated sidewalks, and visible storefronts.
We pay a hidden “fear tax” in longer journeys, last-minute ride-share surcharges, and tucked-away cash for safety apps or self-defense classes.
In our survey of 300 participants, 97.6% identified as women, with the vast majority reporting significant safety concerns after dark.
- 75% of respondents admitted they change their usual routes after dark to avoid areas they perceive as unsafe.
Only 2% said they feel completely safe after dark—and we suspect they’re the men in our sample.
- 93% of respondents reported experiencing harassment. 45% said these incidents occurred repeatedly after dark.
Common safety measures include traveling in groups, choosing well-lit routes, using personal safety apps or alarms, and carrying self-defense tools.
Our bodies become data points—counting every glance, every shadow, every unfamiliar footstep. We trade spontaneity for vigilance, freedom for caution, and the sheer joy of moving through our cities for the straight-line imperative of “get there and back safely.
This is the true price of navigating the after-dark city—and it’s a cost no one should have to bear alone.
We invite you to take part in our survey, either before or after your journey, to help us gather crucial insights. Your input will contribute to a broader effort to push for gender-inclusive urban planning.
Streets as a "psychogeographical archive of implicit or explicit violence"
Chronic state of vigilance can have significant mental health consequences, with women experiencing heightened stress, anxiety, and fear simply by navigating cities after dark.
The lack of a safe and inclusive public transportation system influences many decisions that women make, from where to go to work to how far from home to travel to
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All about Feminist Nightmaking, light, and darkness.