Women-Only Parks: Understanding Women’s Fear of Crime in Karachi, Pakistan

• In Event: Crime and Place: Activity Spaces and Crime

Abstract

A considerable amount of evidence in literature indicates that fear of crime can create anxiety in women and can restricts the use of public places to only those places which are considered as “appropriate for women”. This article investigates the nature of fear of crime among users of places designated to women only. This study is based on a safety survey of park users and the framework is tested in a set of parks called “Ladies Park” in the city of Karachi, Pakistan. The article concludes with some recommendations for research and policy to improve parks and public places for all.

Author

• Asifa Iqbal, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden