Exploring the factors affecting the movement of female pedestrians at night-time in Dhaka city

Abstract

In Bangladesh, where women account for half the population, the majority have experienced sexual harassment or violence in public spaces. The urban environment, particularly after dark, poses unique challenges and concerns for women, affecting their mobility and overall sense of safety. Cultural norms and societal expectations, coupled with a lack of law enforcement presence, contribute to an environment where women feel insecure and reluctant to venture out at night. Therefore, numerous studies have been conducted on the issue of women's safety when moving around at night in developed countries as well as in developing countries like Bangladesh. However, existing research in Bangladesh focuses on specific groups such as garment workers’ safety as pedestrians during night time, leaving a gap in understanding the factors that influence the women's experiences of other sectors or cohorts. Hence, to find the influence of demographic traits of the victims, for instance, age, income, profession, car ownership, marital status, location of residence, prior experience of harassment and road infrastructure factors such as road network connectivity, lighting conditions, presence and condition of sidewalks, foot-over bridges, traffic density and other various reasons, this study will explore the perception of female pedestrian moving at night, considering diverse background from the perspective of a developing country. This paper seeks to identify the factors that discourage or encourage female pedestrian movement during night-time. A questionnaire, segmented into six categories, was designed with 47 questions by reviewing existing literature, considering the local context, and conducting a pilot survey. These encompass a range of socio-economic & demographic features, road infrastructure, surrounding environment, safety and security, incident reporting, and policy and social awareness. The survey was conducted in various locations within Dhaka city, including garments, hospitals, outside schools, government and non-government offices, and public places, collecting responses from 500 women of diverse ages and backgrounds. Independent variables were formed based on the responses provided in this survey. The dependent variable for this study is whether women commute outside during nighttime. Ordered Probit Model (Fixed Coefficient), due to the ordinal nature of the dependent variable, is employed to identify the key factors influencing the perceptions of female pedestrians when moving at night. The Ordered Probit Model will illustrate the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The analysis will reveal significant factors encouraging or discouraging women from walking at night. The model assists in finding out the most and least affected cohort of women. Additionally, independent variables with significant impacts on the perception of female pedestrians are also comprehended. The study's outcomes will empower policymakers to prioritize road infrastructure enhancements and enact legislation to enhance the safety and well-being of female pedestrians during nighttime in developing cities like Dhaka. Furthermore, safety authorities can utilize the insights from this paper to implement a strong monitoring system in areas where women experience higher rates of sexual harassment and violence.