Running as Male Privilege

I wrote this piece in my journal a few months ago, but thought it was relevant to share today. With all of the very real, sad, and terrifying experiences being shared by women this week, I wanted to touch on something that I think about quite often myself, related to how women are forced to exist in a world shaped by the actions of men.

I wonder how many male runners realize how much of a privilege it is for us to be able to feel safe while running at night, or running alone, without worrying that something might happen to us while we are out getting some exercise. I’ve never worried that I might be taken, assaulted, go missing, or murdered, but this is a very real, valid, and frequent occurrence for women around the world every single day.

I think about this every time I go for a run lately. I find it incredibly unfair, and infuriating, that I get to run without giving a second thought about my own personal safety being violated by others, especially when I am running at night, or on secluded trails. This is a luxury of male privilege which is not available to women because of the actions (and inactions) of men. As men, we need to do a better job of educating each other — our brothers, our friends, our sons, our fathers, to be better allies to women and prevent these things from happening both now and in the future.