By ALICE WADE
Published: 12:30 EST, 27 November 2024 | Updated: 12:34 EST, 27 November 2024
Bournemouth football club has been praised after releasing an 'insanely realistic' video highlighting women's unease walking alone at night - as they announce commitment to tackling violence against women.
The Cherries released the clip - which sees a female Bournemouth fan making her way home from a match - across their social media channels last week and have since received an overwhelming response from women and girls who have hailed the 'accurate' depiction.
The club have promised to take further action to tackle the problem of violence against women and have since become an official supporter of the White Ribbon charity.
The White Ribbon is a charity aimed at engaging men and boys to alter toxic masculine norms and harmful attitudes towards women, in the hopes of eradicating violence against women.
It comes as it was revealed that one in two women feel unsafe walking alone after dark.
The video is captioned by the club: 'A walk from from the football might not be so simple for everybody...' and features a comparison between the journey home taken by a woman and one by a man.
In the three-minute clip, viewers hear the internal monologue of a female Bournemouth fan who is watching a game, wondering whether she should leave early to avoid having to walk home alone in the dark.
'It's getting dark, should I leave early? I'll ask Dad'. Quickly sending her location to her father, the woman then decides to leave the match before it finishes.
Bournemouth football club have been praised after releasing an 'insanely realistic' video highlighting women's unease walking alone at night - as they announce commitment to tackling violence against women
The Cherries released the clip across their social media channels last week and have since received an overwhelming response from women and girls who have hailed the 'accurate' depiction
Meanwhile, the internal monologue of male Bournemouth fan is far simpler. 'How long left? Ah, come on,' he wonders, concerned only with the result of the match.
Anxious of daylight hours coming to an end, the female fan makes a hasty exit. 'I wonder if I know anyone going home my way?' the woman wonders as she makes her way out the stadium, wishing she had someone to walk back with her.
At one stage, she stops in her tracks after noticing the male fan looking in her direction, wondering 'why is that man staring at me?'
Though she feels threatened, the thoughts of the male fan reveal he was only looking to admire her 'retro' kit.
The male fan then begins his journey home, walking confidently through alleyways and wooded areas with his headphones in.
Meanwhile, the female fan spends her journey on tenterhooks, sensing danger when others walk close behind her and when cars stop near her.
Much to her relief, the two men following close behind choose to cross the road to avoid making her feel unsafe.
In one moment of fear, the woman pulls a pair of keys out from her pocket and places them between her fingers in fear - though luckily the car moves on.
The club have promised to take further action to tackle the problem of violence against women and have since become an official supporter of the White Ribbon charity.
The club have promised to take further action to tackle the problem of violence against women and have since become an official supporter of the White Ribbon charity
At each realisation that there is no danger ahead, the fan exhales a sigh of relief.
Rather than choosing the fastest route, she opts for a path that that avoids walking through unlit areas.
Finally, after an anxiety inducing journey, she arrives home, relieved to have made it back unscathed. She then immediately calls her father to assure him that she has arrived home safely.
Though the male fan enjoys a leisurely walk and appears unperturbed once he arrives home.
Viewers of the clip praised its realistic take on female experience, adding that it 'capture the feeling' poignantly.
One woman wrote: 'Well done Bournemouth. This felt so real and many don't see that this is a daily occurrence for most women, even when they get home ok, the constant fear is real!'
A second said: 'This is so so accurate, thank you for making this. Every woman watching this can relate entirely.'
The male fan then begins his journey home, walking confidently through alleyways and wooded areas with his headphones in
Meanwhile, the female fan spends her journey on tenterhooks, sensing danger when others walk close behind her and when cars stop near her
Reminding of the all too real dangers, other shared harrowing experiences of being in frightening situations when walking alone at night. One woman wrote: 'I've had a car pull alongside me. Kept telling me he'd give me a lift, told him no I would walk, kept insisting, only gave up when I said I was calling the police. It's scary and very real.'
Another penned: 'Thank you for this, as a young female I walk 5km home from games on my own. I don't even go to European weeknight games because it is too dark. Stick to a Saturday 3pm latest.'
Earlier this year, violence against women was declared a 'national emergency' in England and Wales by police.
Stalking, harassment, sexual assault and domestic violence affect one in 12 women and a 37 per cent rise in cases was reported since 2018, with perpetrators reportedly getting younger and younger.
Though the report, made by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), said this was just the 'tip of the iceberg' with unreported cases considered.
Campaigns and policy manager at White Ribbon, Leyla Buran, told Metro: ‘Understanding the difference in experience of men and women attending matchdays is vital to men’s allyship towards women and girls. It’s also vital to ensure women’s enjoyment and accessibility to the sport.’
The Cherries have since vowed to take steps to tackle violence against women, including holding workshops for school aged boys, and having female operation officers present at games.
Bournemouth posted on X: ‘We will be officially supporting White Ribbon Day on Monday 25 November, when staff and different age groups at the club’s academy will receive training on the theme in general with additional coverage of their safeguarding responsibilities and the role they play in modelling allyship.
‘A separate event, created in partnership with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and hosted at Vitality Stadium, will focus on violence against women and girls, misogyny, and healthy relationships.
‘This workshop, for local secondary school students, will be delivered by Solve, an organisation that has worked closely with the Premier League in this area.
Viewers of the clip praised it's realistic take on female experience, adding that it 'capture the feeling' poignantly
‘The white ribbon, which represents men taking responsibility to challenge this issue, will be worn by various members of staff around the ground at tomorrow’s match against Brighton & Hove Albion.
‘Further information will also be available in our matchday programme and on big screens.
‘We have been working together with Dorset Police to ensure that women’s safety at AFC Bournemouth is of paramount importance, leading to the introduction of two female Operational Football Officers who will become familiar faces at all of our matches.’
Since then, the Cherries have organised workshops for young men around 'building healthy masculinity, relationships and understanding violence against women and girls.'
They have also teamed up with other organisations such as Solve, which provides mental health support, to lead workshops.
Head of management at the club, Hannah Powis said in a clip uploaded to social media: 'If we're going to see a chance, it's really important for us to focus on that next generation that are coming through and changing the behaviours and the patterns and to make sure people feel comfortable calling out that behaviour.'