A women not afraid of being alone. They afraid of being followed.

There is a kind of silence that says everything. It is the silence you notice when a woman crosses the road because she hears your footsteps behind her. Or when you step into a lift and she immediately pulls her bag a little closer, trying to make herself smaller. She tries to disappear so anyone can't see or feel her presence. She does not know who you are. She does not know that you mean no harm. But she cannot take that chance.

A women not afraid of being alone. They afraid of being followed.

And the saddest part is, she is right to feel that way.

This is not an overreaction. This is how women stay safe. This comes from years of lived experiences and warnings passed from mother to daughter quietly. “Be careful. Do not trust too easily. Do not walk alone. Always be aware.” I have heard my own mother say this to my sister, and I have seen the weight of those words in her eyes.

This is the truth that many women live with every day. To understand why these warnings have such weight it's self, take a moment to read “She’s Not Overreacting. You’re just Ignoring It!”. How we, as men, often unknowingly contribute in their fear by ignoring these subtle signs.

As a man, it feels different. I have been on the other side of that fear, not as a threat, but as a presence. Just existing in the same space, without intention, without harm but still, it is enough to make her feel unsafe.

That is when it really hits you. It is not enough that I know I am not a threat. She has to feel safe. And that feeling is not something I can demand. It is something I have to create.

So I started thinking, what can I do? What can any man do to help women feel safer, to show them that they are seen, respected, and not alone?

It is not always about our intentions. It is about awareness. It is about noticing the small things. The details we overlook, but that means so much to her.

“No woman walks home without a plan. Every key in hand, every route rehearsed. We do not walk, we calculate.” — a friend told me

When you are walking behind her at night, slow down. Or cross the street.

You might be walking home after a long day, lost in your own thoughts, but the sound of your footsteps could mean fear for her. If she speeds up, maybe you should slow down. If she keeps looking over her shoulder, do not take it personally. She is just trying to keep herself safe. Cross the street if it helps her breathe easier. It might feel small to you, but to her, it is everything.

Respect her space, whether in a lift, on a bus, or just walking by.

If the space is tight, do not crowd her. Do not stand too close. If you need to cross walk by her on the footpath, say “excuse me.” It lets her know you see her, and that you are not going to surprise her. Keep your hands visible. Stay calm in your movements. Your presence should never feel like pressure.

Avoid staring or making her feel like she is being watched.

You might not even realise you are doing it. A awful glance, eye contact that lasts a second too long, it can feel unsettling. Let her be. If she is walking towards you, just let her pass. You do not have to look away completely, but give her the peace of being in her own world, without feeling like she is being observed.

Sometimes, walk faster and move ahead. Give her back the space she needs.

Many men do this without realising it, and it is actually a kind gesture. By walking ahead, you are giving her space to relax. She does not have to keep checking behind. You are no longer a shadow following her. You are just another person passing by. That shift in position changes everything.

Do not overstep. Do not make her uncomfortable.

Sometimes, even compliments can feel like pressure. A random “you are beautiful” from a stranger might sound harmless to you, but to her, it can be sensetive. The same goes for how you behave online, too many likes, messages out of nowhere, emojis late at night. All of these send a message. Be mindful of how your actions might feel on the receiving end.

Listen to her silence. Respect her body language.

If she is giving short answers, avoiding eye contact, or laughing nervously, do not push her to open up. She is not being cold. She might just be uncomfortable. Read the vibe, not just the words. Let her have the choice cut off. Respect that choice. If she is not smiling with her eyes, maybe she is not smiling at all.

If alcohol is involved, be extra careful and extra kind.

Whether it is a party, a bar, or a gathering with friends, alcohol lowers defences. That does not mean consent. Do not touch her unless she is clearly comfortable. Do not push for one more drink. If she is not steady on her feet, offer help without any expectations. Be someone she can trust, not someone she has to recover from.

In public spaces, let her exist without pressure.

If she is sitting alone, reading, waiting for her ride, or walking through a park, just let her be. Do not sit too close. Do not strike up a conversation if she does not seem open to it. Respect her quiet. Her space is hers. She should not have to defend it.

At work, treat her with the same respect you expect.

Do not interrupt her in meetings. Do not make her feel invisible or out of place. Listen to her ideas. Give her credit. Do not hover near her desk or try to be overly familiar. She is here to work, not to fend off unwanted attention. Be a teammate, not a distraction.

And most of all, speak up when it matters.

If you hear someone make a sexist joke, call it out. If you see someone making her uncomfortable, check in. Being silent does not make you neutral. It just means you are standing with the wrong side. Be the one who steps in. Be the one who protects, even in small ways.

Why does it matter?

Because women are tired. They are tired of always being alert. Tired of planning their routes, carrying keys between their fingers, pretending to be on calls just to avoid unwanted attention. Tired of changing how they exist, just to feel a little safer.

Maybe it is time we change too.

This does not make us weak. It makes us aware. It makes us kinder. And it makes us better.

What kind of man do I want to be?

I want to be the one who helps her breathe easier. The one who is quiet, but not invisible. Present, but not threatening. The one who does not make her flinch. The one who listens, without needing applause for it.

If I ever have a daughter, I want her to live in a world where she can walk home at night without fear. Where she can laugh loudly without second-guessing herself. Where she can exist freely.

And if I ever have a son, I want him to know that being a man is not about taking up space. It is about making space. For others. For safety. For respect.

To the women reading this,

You should never have had to carry this fear in the first place. But we see you. And we are learning. We are trying. Not perfectly, but with honesty.

To the men reading this,

Let us do better. Not because someone told us to, but because it is the right thing to do. Because if our presence can make someone feel safe instead of scared, that is power. Real power.

This is not about guilt. This is about growth. And if even one woman walks a little easier because of who I choose to be, then I know I am walking the right path.

Support me here!

If you are a woman reading this, I hope you felt seen. Heard. Understood.

You should never have had to shrink yourself just to make the world feel comfortable. I may never fully understand what that feels like, but I promise to keep listening, keep learning, and keep showing up with respect, not assumption.

And if you are a man reading this, pause for a moment. Reflect, not with guilt, but with honesty.

Have you ever unknowingly made a woman uncomfortable, just by being present?

Can you recall a time you noticed her unease and chose silence over support?

What would change if we all made space without waiting to be asked?

Sometimes, safety doesn’t come from grand gestures.It comes from quiet decisions. From choosing to be kind when no one’s watching. From immense care that doesn’t expect credit, just peace.

And that is all women have ever asked for.