“Best College Town in the Pac-12”

By Cyera Charles

On her walk back, the sun has begun to set, and the night is nearly covering the sky.Walking home, she tries to stay on the busier street that offers more lighting, considering her safety and her nerves (Solnit, 2000). She refuses to listen to her headphones on the walk back, in order to stay alert of everybody that comes within close vicinity of her. If she feels threatened but a body’s stature, or if the body belongs to a man especially, she’ll take the precaution of crossing the street and talks herself out of a panic, “you can never be too careful” (Solnit, 2000). She understands that society has attached a feminine persona to her, and therefore sexualizes her into an open target (Mitchell, 2001; Solnit, 2000). She’s conscious of the unfair standard that it’s too dark for her to be walking late at night, alone, without asking for it. Or that her skin tone is an indication that she’s hypersexual and flaunts it like she wants it. She understand the dangerous critique placed on herself and women who continue their lives passed the setting of the sun. In a fast walk now, she sees her house in view. As she steps onto the front porch, a wave of relief comes over her as she can feel safe from danger or sexualization, even if it is only until tomorrow.