Top News
Next Story
Newszop

BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty rages 'fix the problem' in furious rant about women's safety

Send Push

On Thursday's BBC Breakfast, presenters Charlie Stayt and delved into the issue of how darker evenings affect people's exercise routines.

Naga shared with viewers that new research indicates half of women avoid outdoor exercise in the dark due to safety concerns.

In response to this, the This Girl Can campaign has kick-started the Let's Lift the Curfew initiative to highlight women's safety worries. On the show, Charlie and Naga engaged in a conversation with Holly Taylor, the Digital Editor of Women's Running, about the matter.

After introducing her, Naga remarked: "Isn't it a shame that this is needed?"

Holly agreed, expressing to the hosts that ideally, this wouldn't be a subject for discussion as she added: "It's such a shame that campaigns like this have to exist and that we have to talk about these types of statistics, but unfortunately, it is a reality for so many women, at this time of year particularly."

image

Charlie pointed out that it's unfair women have to devise ways to run at night, though questioned if it would be simpler to pause running temporarily while the nights are longer, reports .

Offering her perspective on the issue, Naga stated: "I think what it comes down to is it's so infantilising, it makes us feel like children again. What you end up doing is you say I won't have my headphones in because I need to be more vigilant."

The presenter has shared the stark realities of people having to adjust their safety habits, adding: "Already, we run with them at a level so you can hear if someone is coming up. You then start telling people where you're going and what route you're taking and that limits you again."

She went on to reveal that some individuals go to the lengths of having tracking devices on them in case they take a fall or suffer an attack, so as to alert a contact.

Expressing frustration, she continued: "It's all very well these things happening, the frustration is really- I mean you can hear it in my voice, the frustration is there that we are being told to curb ourselves rather than fix the problem."

Holly chimed in with agreement, saying how incredibly unfortunate it is that women feel compelled to alter their everyday lives for the sake of their own security.

The guest highlighted: "I don't think women should have to change the way they behave, certainly around the behaviour of men."

However, she acknowledged the difficult trade-off, adding: "But, I also understand that the alternative of women feeling that they need to stop running completely when as I said that can be such an important part of their fundamental physical and mental well-being."

BBC Breakfast continues weekdays on BBC One from 6am.

Loving Newspoint? Download the app now