Is It Safe to Walk Here? Design and Policy Responses to Women's Fear of Victimization in Public Places

摘要

Fear of victimization and crime are important concerns for women in cities. Although differences among women exist because of age, race, class, cultural and educational background, sexual orientation, and disability status, as well as personal characteristics such as personality traits and sense of physical competence, women typically report higher levels of fear than men. Women's fear is particularly associated with specific environmental conditions and settings. An overview is given of women's fear of crime in public spaces. After a discussion of a series of facts and fallacies about women's fear, the outcomes of fear as reflected in women's behavior and travel patterns are reviewed. Empirical findings are reported from two surveys of women in neighborhood parks and waiting at bus stops in Los Angeles, California. Design and policy responses to women's fear of victimization are then focused on and the interrelationship between environment and crime is analyzed, with suggestions for design and planning strategies for safer public spaces.