Women and older people have a greater feeling of insecurity and are less present in Barcelona’s parks
The José Manuel Blecua prize-winning research studies whether citizens perceive six parks in Barcelona in the districts of Ciutat Vella, Gràcia, Sant Andreu, Nou Barris and Les Corts as safe. For the study, surveys were conducted, victimisation data was used and systematic observations were made over two months of the people who go to the parks, what activities they do, and the psycho-environmental conditions of the spaces.
Among the conclusions, it is worth highlighting that women have a greater perception of insecurity. Women report on average 6% less perceived security than men, but this difference doubles in the spaces studied in Ciutat Vella. It is also noted that greater roots in the neighbourhood lead to a greater feeling of security, and that parks located in the most socio-economically disadvantaged districts are perceived as more unsafe, although they are not always the ones with the highest number of crimes.
“Women report greater fear of crime, a higher perception of risk, they have heard more stories of victimization prior to the areas studied and they have worse opinions about the neighborhood than men. Therefore, gender is a variable that greatly affects the perception of security. Older people also tend to experience higher levels of fear of crime, which justifies why these two groups deserve special attention, given their greater sensitivity, linked to greater physical or psychological vulnerability,” explains the winner of the award, Félix Pérez.
The author points out that while keeping public spaces clean and well lit is essential to generate a perception of security, it is not enough and more comprehensive policies are necessary. The perception of security is closely linked to the socioeconomic level of the area, therefore, “we must promote the revitalization of neighborhoods and their economic and educational growth,” says Félix Pérez. He also highlights that familiarity with the environment contributes to a greater perception of security: “it is important to promote intercultural coexistence, residential stability and stop gentrification processes.”
“The research shows how the lack of perception of security makes it difficult for a considerable part of the population to access the benefits of public spaces; spaces that are perceived as safer attract more women, people of different ages, people with mobility difficulties, promote play and physical activity, and are therefore more inclusive and democratic,” concludes Pérez, who wrote the doctoral thesis under the direction of UB professors Sergi Valera and Maria Teresa Anguera.
The research, published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, led to the creation of a new instrument for observing behaviour in public spaces: ÉXOdES (observational examination of public spaces), which is already being applied, with minor adjustments, in other studies.