MEX AND THE CITY: WOMEN’S PERCEPTIONS OF UNSAFETY IN THE STREETS OF MEXICO CITY

Abstract

This thesis attempts to contribute to the existing knowledge on gender and urban space. It looks into the problem of women’s perceptions of urban (un)safety in public spaces and the ways they address the perceived risk. The work further explores how women’s urban routines are influenced by the security measures they introduce to feel safer. The case study of this research is Mexico City, specifically the streets of its Historic Center. Focus on the outcomes of the coping strategies for women’s urban lifestyle was missing in the previous studies. Key techniques used were in-depth interviews, surveys, safety audit and participative walks, as well as collaboration with the local expert community. Beyond discovering and describing women’s experiences in urban spaces, this work produces empirical evidence on how their fear is constructed along the lines of gender. The female citizens of the city tend to introduce limiting and non-sovereign response strategies in order to decrease their vulnerability. This affects their use of public space and has implications for their everyday routine, with the perceived state of unsafety decreasing women’s enjoyment of urban opportunities and engagement in city life. Moreover, zero-sum urban governance makes the distribution of services and security policy uneven to the disfavor of some groups of women. This fact is evident in the Historic Center, where street vendors and the homeless are seen as obstacles to touristification. Finally, employing a gender perspective, this thesis argues that gender and intersectional issues need to be considered in the spatial design and urban planning of Mexico City.