Trigger Warning: Mentions of gender based violence, rape
Imagine a typical urban neighbourhood and a similarly typical bus station within the neighbourhood. How many women are idly standing at the bus station? Is it equal to the number of men waiting around? A typical urban neighbourhood and a typical bus station within it would paint a skewed picture in our minds. Mobility and accessibility are fundamental pillars shaping any person’s daily lives and experiences. Why then, do we consistently see a greater representation of men than women in public spaces, transportation systems, and infrastructure?
The safeguarding of women’s rights stands as a poignant gauge of a nation’s advancement. On paper, these rights encompass the right to feel safe and protected in public spaces. However, gender minorities have vastly differing experiences of accessing public spaces than their more privileged counterparts. Access to public spaces is a right often curbed and controlled for women and other gender minorities and public transport stands as a glaring example of the same.
Delving into Indian women’s encounters with public transportation and the influence of safety apprehensions on their mobility decisions, the Observer Research Foundation and Youth Ki Awaaz surveyed a diverse cohort of 4,262 women from 140 Indian cities between December 2019 and September 2020. 88% of the women surveyed said they use public transport.
The findings from the survey underscores the pervasive sense of insecurity experienced by women in public transport settings, with a staggering 57% expressing that they perceive public transport in India as unsafe. Equally concerning is the high incidence of sexual harassment, with 56% of women reporting having experienced sexual harassment while utilizing public transportation. These findings shed light on the significant barriers women face when attempting to navigate public spaces.
What Is Loitering And Why Is It Gendered?
In their seminal work ‘Why Loiter: Women and Risk on Mumbai Streets,’ Shilpa Phadke, Sameera Khan and Shilpa Ranade write, “Loiter without purpose and meaning. Loiter without being asked what time of the day it is, why we are here, what we are wearing, and whom we are with. That is when we will truly belong to the city and the city to us.”
Loitering, defined as “standing or waiting around without apparent purpose,” has been an activity catered solely to men. While the act itself may seem innocuous, its implications within the context of public transport safety merit closer scrutiny. In bustling interchanges and transport hubs, loitering behaviours often vary, ranging from individuals waiting for their transit connections to those with more ambiguous intentions.
For women passengers, in particular, the presence of loitering individuals can evoke feelings of vulnerability and insecurity. The ambiguity surrounding the intentions of those who linger can amplify these sentiments, heightening concerns about personal safety and well-being. Survey findings indicate that women are more likely to alter their travel behaviours, alter their travel timing or avoid travelling altogether in response to feelings of insecurity, underscoring the significant impact of loitering on mobility choices.
Do Women Feel Safe Reporting Instances Of Sexual Harassment?
While 16% of the surveyed women feel most unsafe inside the public transport system, a majority of 18% said they felt most unsafe at interchanges (bus stops/train stops/traffic lights) and 13% said they felt the most unsafe at pathways or footpaths between interchanges. It was also found that women feel unsafe while using transport facilities that require physical proximity to strangers.
In addition to shaping perceptions of safety, concerns regarding personal security significantly influence the mobility patterns of women. A significant proportion of female respondents highlighted the impact of time of day on their travel decisions. Notably, a staggering 97% of women aged 18-24 expressed feeling safest during journeys conducted between 7 am and 5 pm. Similarly, a substantial 89% of respondents under 18 years old and 77% above 35 years old echoed this sentiment, underscoring the widespread preference for daytime travel among women of varying age groups.
The ability to loiter freely—or conversely, the inability to do so without apprehension—shapes the social dynamics of public transport spaces. For women and other vulnerable groups, the presence of loitering individuals can create an atmosphere of tension and discomfort, perpetuating feelings of exclusion and marginalisation. The fear of harassment or assault further compounds these concerns, exacerbating existing disparities in access and mobility.
What Do Recent Incidents Tell Us?
In a recent incident, a 28 year old Spanish woman travelling in India was gangraped in the Dumka district of Jharkhand. The travel vlogger was allegedly threatened with a dagger, kicked, punched, and then raped. Furthermore, she also said that the entire ordeal continued for almost two and a half hours. This incident underscores the vulnerability that women often face in public spaces.
For women, the concept of loitering extends beyond mere idleness; it represents the freedom to navigate public spaces with a sense of security and autonomy. Yet, incidents like the one experienced by the Spanish traveller emphasise the stark reality that this freedom is not equally accessible to all. Women are often forced to weigh the risks associated with loitering against their desire for independence and exploration, perpetually vigilant of potential threats lurking in the shadows.
Women should not have to forfeit their agency or compromise their safety simply to navigate public transportation or enjoy leisure activities. Addressing the systemic issues that contribute to gender-based violence requires a multifaceted approach, encompassing education, awareness-raising, law enforcement, and community engagement.
Feminism, while having a variety of different implications, can also sometimes mean existing in public spaces without fear. For many women, the act of lingering in spaces that are ‘supposed’ to be accessible to all is the most radical act of feminism they can engage in. Ultimately, the fight for safer, more inclusive public spaces is not just about preventing individual acts of violence but about creating a world where every woman can walk, explore, and loiter without fear.
Methodology for survey:
A comprehensive survey was conducted across India, encompassing responses from 4,262 women to examine the influence of safety concerns on transportation choices. Spanning a ten-month period from December 2019 to September 2020, data was collected online, targeting a diverse demographic across 140 cities.
The survey delved into various factors including age, income, employment, student status, and residential location, aiming to dissect the impact of safety concerns on mobility choices. Differentiating between public transport users and non-users, the survey sought to understand the preferences and behaviors of each group, with a focus on identifying potential factors influencing a shift towards public transport adoption. Before public dissemination, a closed pilot phase ensured the survey’s objectivity and functionality across various online platforms.
Utilizing logistic regression analysis, the survey findings were examined, revealing correlations between respondents’ demographics and their propensity to use public transport. Age, income, employment status, and education were considered as predictors, with public transport usage treated as a binary dependent variable. By disaggregating data based on these variables, the survey aimed to unveil nuanced patterns and insights, informing potential interventions to promote safer and more inclusive transportation systems.
To read more about YKA’s survey methodology click here.