Safe behind the gate: Safety perceptions of residents in barrios cerrados in La Plata

To understand the dynamics of the gated community, in this article, conceptions of fear in relation to space are being studied through the experience of residents in gated communities in La Plata, Argentina. In-depth interviews with six participants and observations in different barrios cerrados allowed for an understanding of the use of space and its impact on fear of crime and other safety perceptions. The stories showed how enclosed communities are perceived by the residents as the only safe form of living, both physically and socially, with the outsider being dangerous by default. Also, it established the means used in the space to nurse these feelings of insecurity, such as cameras, guards and fences. The narratives helped understand how self-governance contributes to a feeling of security by being in control of the use of space. My findings showed how gated communities not only contribute to more segregation between inside and outside but also emphasize and reinforce the idea of the outside being an insecure space, and as a justification for emotions such as fear and the need to be in control.