A feminist analysis of campus foot-patrol/walk home services.

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to conduct a feminist analysis of campus foot patrol/walk home services. The recent proliferation of this type of program has prompted some concern from the feminist community regarding the implications of this type of response to women's fear. Feminist scholars contend that these programs maintain and foster fear of the outdoors as well as reinforce women's dependency on others for protection. In reality women have substantially greater risks of being assaulted within their homes or other safe places by someone known to them. Feminist scholars state that an effective response to properly dealing with women's fear lies in education and awareness efforts focused on the perpetrators of violence against women/men. Fear is fostered in women throughout their lives through experiences of both public and private abuse at the hands of men. This reality, contextualised within the realm of our patriarchal society, has led feminists to conclude that long-term social change can only be effectuated through measures directed at men in society. Representatives of campus foot patrol/walk home services from four universities in the Ottawa-Montreal region were interviewed regarding their respective programs. The results showed that while foot patrol/walk home services may indeed be victim-control oriented and reproduce women's dependency on others for protection, they serve to fulfil a present, compelling need for many women: to be able to be out after dark without fearing for their safety. Evidence of the possible potential for long-term social change exists in all the programs, as each has educational and awareness components compulsory for all their volunteers. These components differ greatly in content and length however, and thus further research would be needed to determine the actual impact on volunteers. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)