Addressing gender-specific experiences of personal security while travelling : the case of Cape Town

Abstract

The South African Constitution recognizes freedom of movement to be a fundamental human right, however, transport systems tasked with providing reliable access for all often fail to address gender-specific challenges effectively. This Cape Town based investigation makes use of survey platforms to identify common threats encountered while travelling, assess the prevalence and nature of harassment, and analyse the impacts on personal security due to perceived threats as well as experienced threats. Recognizing the sensitivity of this topic - use of the SHE-CAN tool, a web-based tool for helping decision-makers tackle sexual harassment in sub-Saharan public transport, is employed. This is to avoid unnecessarily retraumatising any participants while also providing insights on how to ask those affected by personal threats of harassment to advocate for what changes they would personally like to see. The survey findings reveal notable gender differences in safety perceptions during commute trips. Men generally felt safer than women across all stages of the journey with the disparity being most pronounced while waiting at the station, where 43% of men felt safe, in contrast to only 28% of women. Among women, 6.7% cited verbal harassment and 9.6% cited sexual harassment as major concerns, reflecting a heightened awareness of these issues. In comparison, men reported 8.3% of concerns related to verbal harassment, but there were no reported considerations for sexual harassment. Addressing these gender-specific difficulties is essential for ensuring that transport systems are not only adequate but also inclusive and equitable for all users. Without understating the importance of Surveillance and Policing as well as Legal Framework interventions, the high number advocacy for Education and Behaviour interventions as well as Campaigns speaks to the need for preventative measures instead of justice-provoking measures.