Things We Saw Today: Women Share What They Would Do If Men Were Banned From Being Outside at Night

Civil rights activist Danielle Muscato recently posited an interesting hypothetical on Twitter: What would you (meaning women & non-binary) do if all men had a 9pm curfew? This is clearly a fantasy hypothetical, not the first stages of a planning meeting, so while there were some men in the replies snarking at the enforceability of such a curfew or its impact on the workforce, etc, etc, they’re easy to ignore. The much more interesting–and upsetting–conversation was in the women answering genuinely.

Ladies, a question for you:

“What would you do if all men had a 9pm curfew?”

Dudes: Read the replies and pay attention.#metoo #Kavanaugh #Cosby #feminism #maleprivilege #privilege

— Danielle Muscato (@DanielleMuscato) September 25, 2018

Oh my god. The mind reels. Go dancing? Take a walk? Open the front door without fear? https://t.co/v66MM38Btf

— Emily L. Hauser (@emilylhauser) September 30, 2018

I’d walk a city in peace. https://t.co/EhnQY2JI2T

— Sonja Yoerg (@SonjaYoerg) September 27, 2018

I’d sleep with ground floor windows open on a summer night https://t.co/HrkxYZlHzk

— Jane Burns (@jrburns) September 26, 2018

I’d run at night.

I 👏 would 👏 run 👏 so 👏 much 👏 at 👏 night 👏 https://t.co/ToE2odrFAq

— Kat(her)i(n)e Riley (@KatherineERiley) October 1, 2018

Imagine how different ALL of my life would have been. So much freedom! All the places I would enjoy on my own, and going for walks. Spontaneity to just go! I love the way the air feels on my skin when it’s warm at night, and I’d love to experience this without a chaperone. https://t.co/qPTuon9zGf

— Christina Eliason (@c_eliason) October 1, 2018

My whole life would have been different, and now my daughter’s life would be different. https://t.co/52YCx1K4AN

— Melissa Hillman (@bittergertrude) September 26, 2018

This thread really resonates with me, and I expect with most women. You get used to a life where people have to offer to walk you home after dark, and that’s really sad. https://t.co/L6AMpSHmTj

— Laura Green (@LauraisaGreen) September 30, 2018

The heartbreaking thing about this thread is how mundane the answers are. Women largely just want the freedom to exist in the world, in public spaces, on their own streets and sometimes just in their own beds, without fear. Yes, of course men are victims of violence too, but if asked the same question–what they would do if they could be guaranteed an evening without that threat–I doubt their answers would be as simple as “take a walk.” That’s the difference.

You can read through more replies on Twitter.

• “Douchebag decree”: Brett Kavanaugh’s Senate questioning looked a lot like what women experience when they’re questioned about their own assault. But the narrative around him is distinctly different.” (via Bitch)
• Happy October! Here are 31 horror movies available on Amazon Prime. (via Den of Geek)
• Netflix released a trailer for their adaptation of the London musical Been So Long, starring Chewing Gum’s Michaela Cole, and it looks truly swoon-worthy. (via Vulture)
• Also in Netflix trailers, here’s one for Titans. (via ComicBook.com)
• Important: “We need to change how we talk about video game studios closing.” And that doesn’t just mean Telltale. (via Wired)
• Aziz Ansari is on tour, and his new set sounds … not great. (via Pajiba)

Rabbit, rabbit, Mary Suevians! What did you all see out there today?

(image: Rene Asmussen from Pexels)

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