A Southampton woman has launched a campaign in the city to protest against violence against women and girls (VAWG) and will be holding a march in the city on Saturday (April 19th).
Megan Parker explained: “Through my campaign, I have been mapping locations in Southampton where women have experienced gendered violence, using anonymous testimonies to create a visual record of these spaces.
“This has taken shape as a social media project (@placeswefear) and a postcard campaign, where I photograph these locations to highlight the impact of sexual violence in our city. The aim is to raise awareness, amplify survivors’ voices, and push for tangible change.”
As part of this initiative, Megan is organising a march on April 19th to advocate for better street lighting, more CCTV, and stronger safety measures for women. The march will serve as both a protest and a fundraiser for charities supporting survivors of sexual violence.
She continued: “I started this campaign to challenge the normalization of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in Southampton by highlighting locations where incidents have occurred. I’ve created postcards featuring images of these locations with testimonies from survivors on the back, which I send to local council officials and MPs to push for better safety measures. The project has since grown into a wider movement, incorporating social media, public events, and community action.”
Saturday’s event is set to be a mass evening walk through Southampton city centre, beginning at 5pm in Guildhall Square to advocate for improved street lighting, more CCTV, and other measures to make the city safer for women. Megan will also be using it as a fundraiser for charities supporting survivors of sexual violence.
People can get involved by following and sharing the campaign, attending events, and spreading awareness.
You can find The Places We Fear on:
Instagram: @theplaceswefear
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