The Hidden Toll of Women’s Safety in the UK

May 21, 2025
11:05 am

Let’s face it: walking home shouldn’t feel like preparing for battle. But for many women across the UK, that’s exactly what it is.
In a new study, commissioned by women’s safety organisation Epowar, it has been found that almost half of women in the UK (47%) spend money on either therapy or self-defence—think classes, safety apps, and gadgets like rape alarms—purely because they’re afraid of what could happen in public spaces.

From gripping keys like weapons to pretending to be on a call, women have built a mental toolkit of precautions. Not out of paranoia—but out of necessity.

This SafeKab article unpacks what Epowar’s research uncovered, why it matters, and the deeper cost—emotional, financial, and societal—of simply existing in public as a woman.

The Alarming Numbers: What the Study Actually Found

Let’s break this down.

47% of women in the UK spend money on therapy, self-defence classes, or gadgets like rape alarms—all for safety reasons.
£420 per year is the average women spend on taxis to avoid walking home in unsafe conditions.
78% of women worry about travelling alone in the dark.
54% fear being followed, while 50% fear being attacked.
80% use a friend-tracking app.
72% rely on the “text me when you get back” ritual.
47% call a friend while walking home.
28% grip their keys between their fingers, ready to use them as a weapon.

This isn’t just data—it’s a lived reality.

Every Woman Has a Story

Ask any woman, and she likely has that one story—or ten. Walking briskly past a parked van, avoiding eye contact, plotting an escape route just in case. Turning the music off so she can hear footsteps. Calling someone, even pretending to be on the phone, just to feel less alone.

Some safety habits have become second nature:

Sending your live location.
Checking in with friends every 10 minutes.
Walking on the lit side of the road.
Choosing clothes you can run in—just in case.

That’s the daily tax of being a woman in public. And now, thanks to Epowar’s research, we know the cost isn’t just emotional—it’s financial too.

The Mental & Financial Cost of Feeling Unsafe

In a new study, commissioned by women’s safety organisation Epowar, what’s become painfully clear is that women are paying to feel safe—and it’s draining.

🧠 Mental Health Impact:

Therapy isn’t always about childhood trauma. For many women, it’s about processing fear, hypervigilance, or surviving an incident.
The constant mental load—planning routes, avoiding shortcuts, staying alert—can lead to anxiety and fatigue.

💸 Financial Impact:

£420 a year on taxis may not sound huge, but it adds up—especially for students, single mums, or low-income earners.
Then there are the costs of:
- Personal alarms (£10–£40)
- Safety apps (some subscription-based)
- Self-defence classes (£50–£200)
- Therapy sessions (£60–£120 per hour)

This is the invisible safety bill women are footing every year—and most people don’t even see the receipt.

The Problem with “Text Me When You Get Home”

Let’s talk about the digital age’s most bittersweet safety net:
“Text me when you get home.”

On the surface, it’s a sweet and simple gesture. But the Epowar study revealed something sobering: a third of women never get a reply.

That’s terrifying.

It means we’re relying on a system that’s informal, unreliable, and—if we’re honest—ineffective.

What’s missing?

Accountability.
Verified check-ins.
Real-time alerts if something goes wrong.

Sure, it’s better than nothing. But women deserve better than “better than nothing.”

SafeWalk: Tech That Tracks More Than Your Route

SafeKab’s SafeWalk feature shares your location in real-time—but here’s the game-changer:

📍 It shares you journey with a loved one AND gives you access to an SOS button that alerts them and the local SafeKab office that you need help

Why Long-Term Change Still Feels So Far Away

We’re hearing more conversations about women’s safety than ever before. More hashtags. More statements from public officials. More promises.

But women are still:

Crossing the street to avoid someone.
Taking a cab instead of the 10-minute walk.
Holding their breath until the door clicks shut behind them.

Why?

Because systemic change moves slowly. Culture shifts even slower. And in the meantime, women are left to bridge the gap between “someday” and “right now” on their own time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why do women feel unsafe in public spaces?

Because unfortunately, violence against women is a reality. Whether it’s catcalling, stalking, assault, or worse—many women have experienced or know someone who has.

Is the £420 spent on taxis a one-off or a yearly figure?

It’s an average yearly cost, often spent just to avoid walking alone in unsafe-feeling areas, especially at night.

Why isn’t “text me when you get home” enough?

Because it’s not reliable or trackable, and too many women don’t get replies. It offers comfort but not protection.

Women Deserve Better—Now, Not Later

In a new study, commissioned by women’s safety organisation Epowar, it’s been made glaringly obvious that women aren’t just afraid—they’re footing the bill for that fear.

They’re spending hundreds of pounds, sacrificing peace of mind, and leaning on systems that weren’t built to protect them in the first place.

Safety shouldn’t be a luxury.
Walking home at night shouldn’t feel like a risk.
And women shouldn’t need a receipt to prove how costly fear can be.

Until this changes, features like SafeWalk will continue to be neccessary to help ourselves and our loved ones get home safe every night,