Women's perceived safety in public places and public transport: A narrative review of contributing factors and measurement methods

Abstract

Women's perception of safety in public spaces is influenced not only by potential risks of crime or accidents but also by diverse built environment, individual, and social characteristics. These impacts can manifest through a disruption of social engagement and outdoor activities, which can negatively affect their mobility, overall quality of life, and well-being. This study employs a narrative review approach of 32 academic articles to identify various factors that can affect women's perception of safety in public places and while using public transport. We further selected 21 studies that provide substantive data on the built environment, individual characteristics, and social factors, while also examining their intersectionality. By adopting an intersectionality framework, we evaluated the relative importance of each factor based on its consistency and prominence in previous research and assessed their significance in contributing to women's perception of safety. The findings highlight the importance of urban design and built environment improvements, such as street lighting and walking path conditions, in enhancing women's perceived safety. They also suggest integrating social and built factors into safety strategies and emphasise the potential of emerging technologies for collecting data and assessing safety perceptions across diverse populations.