Beyond Equality Campaign Asks Men to ‘See What She Sees’

Prompted by the stark reality of gendered safety concerns, positive masculinities charity Beyond Equality and Forsman & Bodenfors have joined forces to launch a powerful new campaign designed to engage men in the conversation around women’s safety. The campaign rolls out this week in the run-up to International Women’s Day, appearing across digital OOH, print and online across the UK.

See What She Sees was inspired by the conversations sparked by a now-viral moment on The Graham Norton Show, where actors Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal unintentionally highlighted the striking contrast in how men and women navigate everyday situations.

Grounded in data from a national poll, which revealed roughly six in ten men believe safety concerns are sometimes exaggerated - but also that 95% of men agree they share equal responsibility in ensuring women’s safety - the campaign aims to highlight the daily calculations women make to feel safe, often unnoticed by men. 

“"The idea is simple: when it comes to physical safety, men and women often experience the same situations in completely different ways. Women know this instinctively - but many men, even the so-called ‘good guys,’ remain unaware. After all, they’ve probably never had to see the world quite the same way," said Dan Guinness, managing director of Beyond Equality. “What’s often missing is men fully understanding the extent of these experiences and knowing how they can be part of the solution. This campaign invites them into the conversation and aims to inspire action.”

See What She Sees was created by Forsman & Bodenfors, with the support of Stagwell sister agencies Goodstuff (media), KWT Global (PR) and The National Research Group, NRG.

NRG surveyed 2,000 respondents, demographically representative of the UK population. The poll further revealed:

• Seven out of ten women feel concerned about being followed or harassed when alone in public (versus 44% of men).
• Nearly two-thirds (65%) of women say safety fears limit their social and professional participation, compared to just over half (55%) of men.
• Almost two-thirds of women (64%) experience poor mental health due to safety concerns, compared to 56% of men. 

Additionally, nearly half of women (47%) identify public transport as the place where they feel most unsafe - underscoring a critical gap in everyday safety that affects millions during their daily commutes and everyday lives.

Helen James, CEO of Forsman & Bodenfors London, commented, "Alongside policy and systemic change, 90% of women surveyed think men should take more responsibility in calling out inappropriate behaviour in their peers. But it’s not about pointing fingers; it’s about helping men recognise the realities women face and showing them small, everyday ways they can help shift the culture.”

A landing page unpacks the campaign, signposts support and resources - both for women and for men looking to take tangible action - and invites visitors to learn more about Beyond Equality’s work with men and boys.

“We'd like to thank the fifteen media owners who have generously supported the campaign, helping us reach audiences across the UK. Special thanks to our long-standing International Women's Day partner, Open Media,” added Laura Moorcraft, managing director, Goodstuff.