Fear of Crime among LGBT: A Turkish Sample

• In Event: Fear of Crime: Considering Gender and Identity

Abstract

This research aimed to apply the interpretation of victimization risk and fear of crime with qualitative method. The sample consists of LGBTIQ people who live in Istanbul, between 2014 and 2015. In-depth interview technique applied with 19 LGBTIQ participants in the 18-43 age range by sampling snowball. The research aim to investigate sexual orientation and gender identity factors on victimization risk perception. Additionally learning more about which crimes make participants fearful is one of the other purpose of this study.

The results of the in- depth interviews shows that participants were most likely to fear of crimes such as armed attack, murder, rape or sexual assault. According to their importance order in the perception of victimization risk; gays and lesbians placed theft, fraud, extortion crimes first. Bisexual participants put harassment and sexual assault, murder in first. Intersexuals put sexual assault in first. Individuals with fear of sexual assault have a high risk perception of being victims of robbery. Based on direct and indirect victimization experiences of the participants, it is seen that the perpetrators are not only from the foreigners but from the family and friend's circle and whom they have met from the virtual environment.

Authors

• Can Calıcı, Istanbul University Institute of Forensic Sciences Social Sciences Department

• Feyza Yedikardeş, İstanbul University Institute of Forensic Sciences Social Sciences Department

• Neylan Ziyalar, İstanbul University Institute of Forensic Sciences Social Sciences Department