“I Can’t Walk with AirPods”: Stellenbosch Students Reveal Stark Gender Gap in Daily Safety Routines

• A TikTok video filmed at Stellenbosch University captured the stark contrast between how men and women experience daily safety in South Africa
• While male students said they rarely worried about being followed, female students described carrying tasers, never wearing AirPods and sending check-in messages every five minutes
• The video drew an emotional response from South Africans who recognised the safety routines women perform just to get through the day

A TikTok video filmed at Stellenbosch University is striking a nerve across South Africa. Posted on 22 September 2026 by a creator named Tim, the clip asks male and female students the same set of questions about personal safety and lets their answers speak for themselves.

The contrast is immediate. When asked how often they check whether someone is following them, the male students shrugged it off, with one saying he does not think about it much at all. The women told a different story. One said she checks every minute or so. Another said she cannot walk with AirPods in because she needs to stay completely aware of her surroundings.

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The gap between their answers widened further when the topic shifted to personal protection. The men admitted they do not carry pepper spray. The women said they would not leave the house without it, with one adding that she also carries a taser.

Men and women reveal different safety routines

The most striking part of the video centred on what happens after a night out. The male students said they do not think much about whether their friends made it home. Among the women, an entirely different system exists. One described a group chat lockdown where every member must confirm they are safe. Others described sharing live locations and sending check-in messages every five minutes until everyone is accounted for.

Tim ended the video by speaking directly to the camera, making it clear his intent was not to shame men. He said that as things stand, men have a responsibility to protect the women in their lives because those in power are failing to do so.

View the TikTok video below:

South Africans react to the safety video

The comments section on the page filled quickly with people who felt seen by what they watched:

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@josmattt7 wrote:

"I can't even walk with AirPods" eish :/

@Lo said:

"The luxury of being a man."

@JadieWadie shared:

"The fact when I lived in Europe my friends found it strange that I would send a message saying that I am home safe 🥲"

@ThatoTheContentCreator reacted:

"Not really my style hey" yoh SBWL 😭😭

@Nomabesidubula said:

"I don't know man… this made me cry."

@🇿🇦Steyn🇮🇪🍀 wrote:

"Amen brother we are failing as men to keep our women safe. Women are the base of any civilisation. We cannot continue existence without them."

@Venus Sebya added:

"I didn't know that it was common for a girl group of friends to send messages in the group chat to inform each other that they got home safe."

More Briefly News stories on gender

• SAPS Booysens members hold a moment of silence and prayer for GBV victims as South Africa’s gender-based violence crisis remains a national disaster.
• Forensic pathologist Dr Yaseen Bismilla honours women lost to GBV by wearing blue braids at his Master’s graduation.
• GBV survivor Alison Botha questions the urgency of SA’s response to the country’s ongoing gender-based violence crisis.

Source: Briefly News