A woman started dressing as a man to run safely at night after Donald Trump’s election, saying it eased her fears.
Many people enjoy jogging as a way to stay fit and clear their minds.
However, for some, running at night can be a frightening experience.
Claire Wyckoff, a 44-year-old woman from Richmond, Virginia, faced this challenge.
She loved running but felt unsafe doing it alone after dark.
To solve this problem, she decided to try something different.
She began dressing as a man for her evening runs.
The woman sought safety while jogging at night.
Claire was tired of feeling restricted to daytime runs.
She had been a runner for nearly 20 years and wanted to enjoy the freedom of running at night.
After witnessing her husband enjoy his nighttime runs, she felt inspired.
She wanted to experience that same joy without fear.
Claire said: “I have been a runner for nearly 20 years now, having taken part in a half marathon in 2008 and then enjoying it more as casual exercise since,
but this is the first time I’ve felt comfortable running outside alone at night.
One day, Claire and her husband discussed making her feel safer during her evening jogs.
They brainstormed ideas and finally settled on a creative solution: dressing like a man.
The idea sounded fun and, more importantly, practical.
Woman disguises herself as a man to feel safer while jogging alone at night
To pull off her new look, Claire ordered several items online.
She purchased a fake mustache, tattoo sleeves, a wig, and men’s gym clothes.
With these pieces, she aimed to create a convincing male appearance.
“I was getting so sick of hearing my husband say how much he enjoyed his evening runs,
so we thought up this idea together and ordered some facial hair, a wig and tattoo sleeves to complete the look.
“Of course, I’m not exactly sure if people are believing I’m a real man, but it doesn’t really matter because the end result remains the same.”
Once she received everything, Claire was excited to try it out.
She was anxious but hopeful when she first dressed up and stepped outside for a run.
As she jogged through her neighborhood, she immediately noticed a big change.
The reactions she received were entirely different from those she experienced as a woman.
Dressing as a man brought unexpected safety.
Dressed as a man, Claire felt a newfound sense of freedom.
No one approached her, and she didn’t hear any catcalls, which were common when she ran as a woman.
She described the feeling as empowering, saying “I felt like a superhero.”
The sense of safety she experienced was unlike anything she had felt before.
She added: “The first time I’ve felt comfortable running outside alone at night.”
Claire was surprised by how effective this change was.
It allowed her to run without the constant worry of unwanted attention.
She realized that this simple act of dressing differently could make such a significant difference in her experience.
Claire said: “This experiment has revolutionized my ability to go running at night.
“I like to make comedic videos about the whole thing to lighten the mood but this is really born from quite a scary thing.”
Reflecting on the wider issues
Claire’s decision to dress as a man also led her to think about the larger issue of women’s safety in public spaces.
She believes that the political climate, especially after Donald Trump’s election, has made many women feel more vulnerable.
Claire noted how women often avoid going out alone at night due to safety concerns.
This realization pushed her to take action uniquely.
She said: “When Trump won and the phrase ‘Your body, my choice’ was getting thrown about, I suddenly felt really worried about my safety in public especially after dark.
“I’m aware of women creating running groups so they can go out in larger numbers together later at night but I wanted to take it a step further.
“I thought if men have all the rights ‘why not try acting like a man’ and it seemed to have worked.”
While she understands that many women form running groups for safety, her approach is different.
She wanted to challenge societal norms and find a solution that worked for her.
By acting like a man, she felt she could reclaim her right to run freely, regardless of the time.
Claire said: “I’ve already got a goatee arriving in the next few days and have been looking at ordering some chest hair pieces.
“This whole experiment has made me more excited to go running again.
“I feel as though I get to experience it from a totally new perspective and have fun while doing so.”