Navigating Public Spaces amidst Perceived Risk of Violence against Women: Evidence from India

Pallavi Choudhuri, National Council of Applied Economic Research

Recent increases in reportage of violence against women in public spaces may have far-reaching consequences of deterring women from stepping outside their homes to navigate economic opportunities in public domains. In this paper, we estimate the extent to which an increase in perceived risk of crime against women prompts women to modify their lifestyle by withdrawing from public spheres of life. Using data from the India Human Development Survey, conducted in 2022-24, surveying over 35,000 ever-married women, we examine two dimensions of women’s engagement outside the home: economic (paid work) and cultural (women’s ability to travel alone by bus or train). Preliminary results show that increases in safety measures adopted are associated with decreases in women’s public engagement.

Keywords: Gender Dynamics, Human Capital, Education, and Work, Population Policies

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