On Alert

The Story

Women in NYC are sharing stories about getting punched in the face.

Wait, what?

Yup. In recent weeks, TikTok has been flooded with videos of women saying they were randomly attacked in broad daylight while walking in NYC. The videos have racked up over 10 million views. Many of the women said they were looking at their phones when a man punched them in the head. New York police are investigating and said they arrested a male suspect yesterday, but it's unclear if he's connected to any other incidents. The NYPD has not indicated whether these attacks are part of an increase in violent crime against women in the city. Still, women are now adding ‘walking in broad daylight’ to the laundry list of things they have to worry about.

Tell me about it.

It's not just NYC-based women who are concerned about their safety. Women across the US have shared their stories on social media, expressing how they feel the need to stay hypervigilant at all times — and how it's exhausting. They're also swapping safety tips...which really shouldn't have to be a thing. Women who travel solo have gone viral for their tips on staying safe at a hotel. Others have said they put men's work boots at their door to deter invaders. Even exercise requires being on high alert — a survey from Adidas found that 92% of women feel some concern for their safety while on a run.