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The disappearance and then discovery of the lifeless body of Agathe Hilairet, 28, in a wooded area of Vienne raises serious questions. Beyond the individual tragedy, the issue of women’s safety in public spaces is once again coming into sharp focus.
She had left for a simple jog and never came back. Yet she knew Vivonne’s wooded trails well and walked them regularly. Still, even in familiar places, risks remain ever-present for women. According to the Ministry of the Interior, nearly 80% of women say they have experienced harassment or assault in public places. This alarming statistic highlights a daily reality that is far too often normalized.
The Scale Of The Phenomenon In France
The latest national data, including that from the High Council for Equality Between Women and Men (HCE), confirm a persistent sense of insecurity. In 2023, the HCE also noted that 58% of women change their routes to avoid certain high-risk areas. This phenomenon, known as "spatial self-monitoring," significantly reduces women’s freedom of movement and expression.
Héloïse Morel, a sociologist at the CNRS, points out: "The street is not neutral. It is shaped by power relations." From a very young age, women adopt avoidance strategies, giving up certain fundamental freedoms. In practice, this constrained learning shapes their relationship to public space, limiting their choices and reinforcing invisible yet powerful inequalities.
The insecurity women feel is not uniform. It varies by area, age, and socioeconomic context. However, one constant remains: women often have to adapt, hide, or give up.
Public Policies Still Insufficient
Since 2018, several government plans have tried to improve women’s safety in public spaces. The law strengthening the fight against sexist and sexual violence introduced fines for street harassment, a welcome innovation whose enforcement remains uneven.
However, experts point to structural flaws. Élodie Lemoine, a criminologist and member of the National Observatory on Violence Against Women, says: "Awareness campaigns are necessary, but they do not replace a real human presence on the ground." She also notes that the effectiveness of such measures depends on sustained political will. Moreover, strong coordination between prevention, punishment, and education is needed.
In some pilot cities, experiments are emerging: emergency buttons on public transit, enhanced lighting, dedicated mobile police units. However, these initiatives remain scattered, without a coherent national strategy.
Voices From Grassroots Organizations
Many organizations, such as Osez le Féminisme and Nous Toutes, are sounding the alarm. They criticize an approach that is still too focused on making victims responsible for their own safety. Instead, they advocate focusing on preventing violence. Amélie Dubois, spokesperson for Nous Toutes, regrets that women are taught to avoid danger. However, she points out that men are not taught not to be dangerous.
In their latest report, these organizations call for feminist urban planning. They propose concrete measures to improve public safety. For example, they suggest better public lighting and ensuring safety on nighttime transit. They also want to develop apps for reporting incidents in real time. In addition, they emphasize including women’s perspectives in every urban planning project.
Some municipalities, such as Grenoble and Paris, are beginning cautiously to incorporate these recommendations, in consultation with local women. However, the cultural change required remains immense.
A Gendered Dimension Of Safety
The death of Agathe Hilairet renews a collective awareness: safety is not experienced the same way across genders. As Éric Fassin, a sociologist at Paris VIII, reminds us, "public space is often designed by and for men." As a result, the feeling of insecurity is not just a subjective impression, but a deeply rooted social experience.
Historically, the city was designed around masculine models, ignoring the specific needs of other groups. Even today, the lack of safe public restrooms and emergency shelters reflects this structural inequality. In addition, the lack of amenities designed for women also underscores this persistent problem.
The "gendered city" is not a theoretical concept. It has concrete effects on women’s daily routes, careers, and independence.
Toward A Safer Society?
In the face of tragedies like Agathe’s, the response cannot be purely security-based. It requires challenging social norms and teaching equality from an early age. It also calls for inclusive urban policy to ensure equality.
Changing mindsets is a slow but necessary process. It means breaking down gender stereotypes and promoting mutual respect among everyone. It also encourages diversity in every space to foster inclusion. Furthermore, it requires viewing public space as a shared, inclusive place for all. That way, everyone, regardless of identity, can move through it freely and safely.
The road ahead is still long. Yet every tragedy reminds us of the urgency of changing public policy and social practices. Agathe Hilairet, passionate about running, had her whole life ahead of her. Her sudden disappearance forces us to take a clear-eyed look at the state of our society. It also underscores the urgency of rethinking the city and how it is used.