What should we teach our girls about staying safe, and when should we start the conversation?

I often struggle with giving my 11-year-old the smallest of freedoms.  Part of this comes from my sheltered up-bringing but most of my anxieties began as soon as I became a mother. Pre-children, I didn’t feel such acute fear of what could happen but now I see danger everywhere and I have to keep myself in check.  The recent outpouring for Sarah Everard, has again started the conversation around the acceptance of harassment in our society and how that can lead to violence.  

But what is the right message to give our daughters in a situation like this?  

My head says ‘Make our young women strong, aware, and fearless’; my heart says ‘keep them protected’.  Isabella has just started walking to school so I know it’s time to address this, but I don’t have the first clue where to start.  How do I give her the confidence to enjoy her freedom but teach her to be safe?

And as women will we ever feel safe walking alone at night.  Should we teach our daughters that we can be or is that naive?

I would love to hear your thoughts?   

I found this report published in the guardian last year really eye opening:

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jan/19/girls-struggle-to-find-safe-place-in-uk-plan-international-report