public space and women safety
Public spaces, which are arenas where socio-economic life thrives, need to be reshaped where women feel safe and welcome
most unsafe countries for women
India is often considered to be one of the most unsafe countries for women, a reality that demands urgent and deliberate change.
India was ranked 128 among 177 countries rated in Women, Peace and Security Index 2023.
Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Index - Key Details
- First Published: 2017
- Headquarters: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., USA
- Frequency: The survey is conducted every two years (biennial).
- Conducted By: The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) in collaboration with the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO).
three primary dimensions:
Inclusion:
- Education (average years of schooling)
- Financial inclusion (percentage of women with bank accounts)
- Employment (percentage of women in the workforce)
- Mobile phone use
- Parliamentary representation
Justice:
- Absence of legal discrimination
- Access to justice
- Maternal mortality rate
- Son bias (preference for male children)
Security:
- Intimate partner violence
- Community safety (women's perception of safety)
- Political violence targeting women
- Proximity to conflict zones
The WPS Index provides a comprehensive ranking of countries based on women's well-being, considering factors like inclusion, justice, and security. The latest report is the 2023/2024 edition.
very little has changed practically
While the topic is deeply studied and researched in the academic world, very little has changed practically.
For instance, how many women do we see on roads when compared to men at any given point of time?
Which are the spaces where they are more visible?
And which are the areas which they completely avoid?
How freely can women walk on the streets?
Or do women consciously regulate their body language to conform to the male gaze?
Gendered spatial control
what people wants in public space ?
where people cultivate political identities, build livelihoods, and actively engage in community life.
By enthusiastically / eagerly participating in the everyday nuances / सूक्ष्म या मामूली अंतर of public spaces, individuals get more integrated into societal processes. Moreover, a key indicator of a place’s safety is the presence of women freely choosing to relax and enjoy themselves there.
What impacts women’s mobilities?
. According to National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4) data (2015–16),
- 54% of Indian women had the freedom to visit markets alone,
- 50% could access health-care facilities independently,
- 48% were permitted to travel outside their village or community unaccompanied.
Labour Force Participation Rate
Also, the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 2023-24 indicates that the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for women is 35.6%.
this highlights that more than half the female population remains outside the workforce. Therefore, while a majority of women are confined to private spaces, there is a rising number of women who are using public spaces.
for working women, public spaces
this primarily serve as transitional zones, facilitating their commute between home and workplace. These spaces are rarely utilised for leisure or recreation.
Consequently, women’s engagement with public spaces is
- purpose-driven and
- time-bound,
- reinforcing spatial restrictions that limit their presence to functional necessities rather than unrestricted social participation.
A space is truly safe and inclusive when women can navigate it freely and without hesitation
As argued in ‘Why Loiter?’ (Phadke, Ranade, Khan, 2011), reclaiming public spaces is not just about necessity but also about leisure and uninhibited presence.
When women can move without a purpose, without urgency, without having to conform to the male gaze, they assert their right to belong, transforming public spaces into shared, equitable environments.
The issue of safety
voilence in home and In open spaces
many women face threats even within their homes which is considered to be a comparatively safer space.
In open spaces
the risk of gendered violence from multiple strangers is high.
This has reinforced the belief that women need protection, ultimately restricting their autonomy.
As a result, women are largely found in curated spaces such as
- malls,
- theatres,
- and cafes, where the likelihood of violence is perceived to be lower.
Who is stopping ? and what we can do ?
What is fundamentally flawed in the design of public spaces that prevents women from fully claiming and navigating them as their own?
It is here that the community and the government can be great enablers. As a society, we must acknowledge and accept the fact that public spaces offer a sense of freedom.
Risk is inevitable but avoiding public spaces is not the solution. Men are subjected to street violence as well, even though their nature of vulnerability is different from that of women.
Women need to reclaim these spaces with the same ease as men, fostering autonomy rather than restriction.
For this, women should have more conversations about this problem, take out time to go around and ‘hang out’ and have fun in public spaces. Normalising a woman’s use of public space for leisure can contribute to this shift.
Policy level changes
At the policy level
the government can drive change by reimagining public space planning and design.
This includes improving
- street lighting,
- ensuring safe and accessible public toilets,
- installing street furniture such as benches,
- creating more recreational spaces tailored for women.
strengthening public safety
through
- stringent laws
- their effective enforcement to address crimes against women in public spaces.
How many secure bail, only to repeat their crimes? The low conviction rate remains a glaring issue that must be addressed.
“wrong place at the wrong time
Even today, women are often blamed for being in the “wrong place at the wrong time”, shifting the focus from the perpetrator to the victim.
Society places the burden of safety on women while simultaneously excusing or downplaying the actions of offenders.
reshaping public spaces
we can create environments where women feel safe and truly welcome. While centuries of patriarchy cannot be dismantled overnight, meaningful change begins with small, everyday actions.
From the built environment of public space to societal attitudes, every shift, no matter how gradual, brings us closer to an inclusive society where women can navigate and own public spaces freely, without fear or restriction.
Source the hindu
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