Mercedes Stephenson Profile picture
Mar 16, 2021 13 tweets 3 min read Read on X
In light of recent events I've been thinking a lot about how life is different for women owing to the quiet but ever present concern for our physical safety. I've decided to tweet this thread because because I believe there is still a serious lack of awareness. Here we go.
I do not live in fear, but I am always aware. I'm aware of who is around me. Who is behind me. Where the dark corners are that I can't see into. Whether those footsteps behind me are picking up. I hate wearing a hood in the winter because I can't see who is close.
Like all of my female friends, I have walked with my keys between my fingers on the way to my car or home, hidden in my pocket in the winter. I get uncomfortable with earbuds in when it's dark and I'm out walking because I want to know when someone is close.
I have crossed the street when I see someone coming toward me at night and there's nobody else around. I have used the track measure on Uber rides home when uncomfortable attempts to flirt cross a line.
When I walk to my car, I scan the street, parking lot or garage. I am looking at tires and backseats without even thinking about it. I don't park next to vans or SUVs with tinted windows. I'm sure this sounds paranoid, but women are taught this from a young age for a reason.
Women journalists also run into issues with source management - understanding that this is work, not drinks leading somewhere else. Meeting male sources alone is something else you learn to do safely although it's rarely taught.
I had a man try to follow me home from work while I was walking and he as in his SUV. He demanded I have a drink with him. Wouldn't leave me alone. I called the police the dispatcher told me asking a woman on a date is not illegal. Thankfully OPS officers took a different view.
I was lucky on this - I have a lot of contact with the police and know where to go. Many others would not have been so fortunate. This was only a couple of years ago. When I'm literally running from a man following me in a vehicle, something is wrong.
I have subconsciously kept 6 feet between me and people who I don't know (and sometimes those who I do know too) long before the pandemic. I know what can happen if you don't. I don't think guys think about this quite the same way.
It's not just me. It is every, single woman I know. My mother, my aunts, my cousins, my friends, my colleagues. I have yet to find a single woman who does not do these same things, has not been taught the same things or isn't watchful owing to personal experience.
We don't talk about it because it is literally a part of our every day life that we've been doing since we were young girls and teenagers. We are used to it. We shouldn't have to be.
I have significant privilege and cannot imagine how much worse it must be for many other women. My advantages: hostile environment training for Afghanistan & Niger. CANSOFCOM friends who have gone out of their way to spend time doing physical self defence & situational awareness.
One last one that stuck with me. In Afghanistan the NCO next to me in a LAV asked me if anyone had talked to me about personal safety. I assumed he meant IEDs since we were on the road. He said no, KAF, there are a lot of sexual assaults, please don't walk alone at night.

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More from @MercedesGlobal

Jul 31
A twitter thread on the father and son terror arrests in Toronto.

The duo was arrested at a Richmond Hill hotel. Multiple sources tell Global News they had just recorded a video with the ISIS flag and an axe and machete in the room.

Videos are commonly recorded right before an attack
The men were found in room 303 at the Richmond Hill hotel - RCMP ERT officers forced the door.

The men are alleged to have had an axe and machete in the room.

Courd documents say the men planned to use an axe and machete to carry out an ISIS terror attack.
Sources described the planned attack as mass casualty involving stabbing, hacking and slashing. Low tech and hard to predict or prevent- an increasing ISIS trend.

And if you thought ISIS were dead - they're not - experts we spoke to say there is a resurgence in ISIS inspired attacks.
Read 6 tweets
Feb 29
Update… there is a warrant for him, but the JP who signed it ignored the police request for him to be kept in custody. So when he is picked up, he can walk after he appears.

Several police contacts told me they see this all the time and it’s typical of how the system works.
The warrant is related to him breaching his probation which involved clauses he could not contact me for three years.

So basically you can violate your probation conditions in harassment cases and police can say hey you should hold this person, but it’s catch and release.
I cannot imagine the frustration of police officers who deal with repeat offenders like mine (yes he is a repeat offender with a criminal record) and watching this happens and then having to tell gobsmacked women like me sorry but he won’t be held.
Read 6 tweets
Dec 22, 2023
My colleague Shogofa Danish is one of the bravest, smartest, kindest people I know. She is an Afghan refugee and an incredible journalist.

She has been trying to save her parents (her family is on a list of Taliban "foreign spies").

We are trying to help
gofundme.com/f/help-me-save…
Shogofa's parents are currently in Pakistan. We have till the end of the year to hit $20,000 to bring them here (Shogofa raised $4000 on her own).

The two spots that miraculously opened up for them (very hard to get one) only became avail in early Dec so we have very little time
I don't usually use this account for go fund me stuff, but this is life and death for her family.

The Pakistani govt is deporting Afghan refugees. If they are sent back to Afghanistan, there is a very high chance they will be killed.
Read 6 tweets
Oct 10, 2023
Have been asking whether Canada wasn’t asked or declined to sign a statement condemning Hamas issued by the US, UK, Germany, France and Italy.

One source told me we were not asked.

Two others said we weren’t asked bc this is from The Quint, it’s own little mini-alliance.

A fourth source said we were not officially asked but that doesn’t mean there’s not an unofficial approach.
Image
Unofficial approaches can happen to gauge interest and or whether there is going to be a debate about watering down or beefing up statements; and to determine speed of potential response.
One source raised concerns about Canada not being in The Quint or AUKUS as alliances with key allies play out without Canada.

That said, I would be very surprised if there isn’t a G7 statement too
Read 4 tweets
Mar 24, 2023
Now media question time:

American media q1: you talked about security and economic partnership with Canada. Xi just went to Russia. Counties are forming opposing alliances, what does it mean for security basically
Biden says he disagrees with premise of question. Says US has expanded alliances, doesn’t think China or Russia are.
What commitment can China make to Russia? Biden asks
Read 4 tweets
Mar 24, 2023
President Biden begins his address with “Bonjour Canada” which gets a standing ovation.
Biden recalls meeting Trudeau virtually during the toughest days of COVID-19
Biden says no two counties are bound by the many close ties Canada and the US are.
Read 26 tweets

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