Women by Madeline

Women by Madeline - May 2025 Scholarship Essay

I’ve always been aware that women are expected to take responsibility for their own safety: walking in well-lit areas, staying alert, and sharing their location with a loved one. For many of us, these habits have become second nature, not out of comfort, but out of necessity. Living in constant fear is exhausting, especially when it’s clear that even the most careful precautions aren’t always enough. Laken Riley had followed all the precautions - the same ones women are constantly told will protect us. She went for a run in broad daylight, with her location shared with family and roommates. Even then, she became the victim of such a violent crime. Many women have faced the same outcome. About 81% of women in the United States alone have reported experiencing sexual harassment, and one in four have been victims of completed or attempted rape.

If I had unlimited resources and abilities, I’d focus on reforms that directly protect women from violence - in public, courtrooms, and in their daily lives. Safety should be a basic expectation, it should not be something women have to constantly work for.

Too often, survivors remain silent because they don’t trust the system that’s supposed to protect them. Offenders either walk free or serve short sentences, whereas victims have to live in fear of being targeted again. With unlimited resources, I would advocate for a change in our legal system - to prioritize victims’ protection and prevention. I’d push for harsher penalties for repeat offenders of harassment and assault. It’s unacceptable that people with a history of assault are able to continue harming others with little consequence. But I also understand that legal punishment isn’t enough, prevention is the key to change. I would fund school programs that teach students about consent, boundaries, and empathy. Ensuring access to self-defense training for everyone, regardless of their economic status, is essential. Feeling safe should never depend on how much money someone has.

Public transit in Los Angeles has become incredibly unsafe for everyone, especially women. In April, a woman was sexually assaulted at knifepoint on an LA Metro bus in East Hollywood, a reminder of the risk women face while commuting. Japan’s use of women-only train cars during peak hours has helped reduce harassment. I believe this is a model worth bringing to the United States. Especially in Los Angeles, implementing women-only zones could really make a difference. However, having these designated places alone isn't enough. Strict security and monitoring systems are critical to the plan’s effectiveness. Although this won’t eliminate the problem entirely, safer transit options would offer women a sense of security while commuting.

These solutions aren’t hypothetical to me because they reflect issues I already committed myself to addressing. Through debate, mock trial, and criminal justice courses, I’ve developed the ability to think critically and problem-solve effectively. Even without unlimited resources, I’m determined to advocate and bring meaningful long-term change in my community.