Proponent(s)
Abstract
Women in the city experience numerous forms of violence and harassment practices that have been normalized as part of urban life. Safety or the lack of it may have various consequences in individuals’ lives; the fear of violence impedes women’s right to a safe environment and constrains their daily lives. Thus, this paper presents echoes of abuse in various forms of violence including physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse. These acts of violence occur within the urban context, where women face specific challenges and vulnerabilities. This study investigates the underlying factors contributing to women’s vulnerability to violence in urban areas and explores the impact of such violence on their lives and well-being. With the different waves of urban violence, the study resulted largely in a framework of recommendations to examine and monitor existing policies and programs that are positively contributing to women’s safety interventions to prevent violence. Assessing the complex issue of urban violence against women and providing insights that can inform policy interventions and community initiatives aimed at creating safer and more equitable urban environments for women are part of the picture of this study. One of the most important realizations of this paper is the implementing policies and legislation that protect women’s rights, enhancing law enforcement responses and support services, improving urban planning and infrastructure to prioritize women’s safety, promoting education and awareness campaigns to challenge societal norms, and fostering inclusive communities that empower women.
This paper concludes with solutions for creating safer urban spaces for women as a collective commitment to challenging societal norms, dismantling gender stereotypes, and fostering inclusive communities where all individuals can thrive free from violence and discrimination. To successfully achieve the objectives of this study, this paper employed qualitative research through phenomenological case study methodology utilizing in-depth interviews as the primary data collection method. A researcher-designed interview guide with open-ended, descriptive questions was used to capture each participant’s rich, lived experiences.