she’s a crowd

Any woman who’s walked home alone down a poorly lit road, or squeezed onto a crowded train at peak hour, or copped a pinch on the bum at a gig, knows what it’s like to feel vulnerable in a public space. Unfortunately, we’re often told it’s our responsibility to monitor our own behaviour – what we wear, where we go and with whom (thanks a lot, patriarchy!). But what if we could design cities with women’s safety in mind from the get-go? Secure workplaces, music venues and schools, right off the bat.

The trouble is, it’s hard to know what kind of change is needed when we don’t have the complete picture on sexual assault and harassment. Statistics show that in Australia, more than 85 per