Navigating the city: A systematic literature review on women’s perceived safety in urban public space

Being a woman is the primary characteristic associated with perceiving urban public spaces as unsafe. Understanding how feelings of insecurity vary within this group is crucial for developing effective strategies to enhance urban safety. While existing research often focuses on differences between men and women, it fails to provide deeper insights into the specific factors that underlie women's own feelings of insecurity. To move beyond simple sex categorisation and gain a comprehensive understanding of where, when, and why women feel safe or unsafe in urban spaces worldwide, a study that considers the interplay of individual, social, environmental, and temporal factors is necessary. This systematic literature review synthesises international evidence on these factors across various urban public settings worldwide. From 422 unique studies identified using four databases and the AI tool ResearchRabbit, 50 met the inclusion criteria. Based on the literature, we constructed a conceptual framework to summarise the interplay of these factors. Our review highlights three key areas for future research and practical policy implications: the need for an intersectional approach to understand critical factors influencing safety perceptions, the importance of considering temporalities beyond the day-night dichotomy, and the integration of all relevant factors to holistically inform urban planning and development strategies. These insights offer a pathway to more inclusive and effective approaches to enhancing women's safety in urban public spaces.