https://doi.org/10.1140/epjds/s13688-025-00589-z
Research
Feelings of insecurity as a gender-specific constraint on urban mobility
1
Centro de Políticas Públicas, Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
2
Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social (CICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
3
Instituto de Data Science, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
4
Computational Research in Social Science Laboratory, School of Engineering and School of Government, Universidad del Desarrollo, 7610658, Santiago, Chile
5
Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems (NICO), Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA
6
Fondazione ISI, Torino, Italy
a
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Received:
3
October
2024
Accepted:
16
September
2025
Published online:
30
September
2025
Crime and violence shape psychological and sociological perceptions, fostering a sense of insecurity, especially in urban settings. This perception significantly alters lifestyles, routines, and social interactions. In this study, it is conducted an empirical analysis of the relationship between personal feelings of insecurity and the way individuals move in their daily lives, with a particular focus on differences between genders. The methodology used combines subjective data gathered from individuals’ reported perceptions of insecurity with objective data derived from digital mobile phone tracking, providing a comprehensive view of how these fears affect people’s daily routines and mobility patterns. The results highlight that perceived insecurity is significantly related to a lower mobility of individuals of both genders. This effect is more pronounced in women, reflecting significant gender-based differences in the impact of perceived insecurity on daily mobility. The findings, revealing higher levels of insecurity and fear of crime among women, require policy action. Public policy must prioritize making urban spaces, such as bus stops, squares, parks, sports courts, and streets, safer and more welcoming for women. This approach is essential to create an urban environment that is inclusive, secure, and conducive to the well-being of all its inhabitants.
Key words: Insecurity / Fear / Crime / Mobility / Gender
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1140/epjds/s13688-025-00589-z.
© The Author(s) 2025
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