The Majority of Women Feel Unsafe in Public Spaces

According to a new survey conducted by Pointer and AD, women in the Netherlands feel unsafe in public spaces, with the scariest places being public transport in addition to stations and parks. Specifically, more than 80 percent reported that they feel a sense of danger at those locations. In addition to the scariest locations, other places included bars and clubs. Almost all the women in the survey mentioned changing their behaviour to feel safer by avoiding certain places, alternating their routes, sharing their location with family, or pretending to be on a call. On passenger surveys conducted by public transport providers, this has not been indicated as an issue. When questioned about this, NS, which is the largest train company, mentioned that their surveys do not include a gender question because they do not want to “make a separate policy for men/women/other groups.” The results are interesting and surprising, with Krista Schram, a Public Trust and Safety researcher at InHolland, highlighting that women’s safety should be taken more seriously. Gender Concerns International is alarmed by these findings and reinstates the importance of prioritizing women’s issues and safety. It is strongly encouraged that local authorities and public transport providers to take measures to ensure that every member of society feels safe.