The Streets Are Safer For Women Than They Are For Men

In reality, the streets are much safer for women than they are for men. Critique this statement using the victimisation/fear paradox AND with reference to current statistics. The perceived and potential threat for street violence is a significant social issue and has led to public fear; it has been imbedded so deep within our minds that it is almost instinctual to be constantly on the lookout for danger when out of the home. Beginning in early childhood through learning about ‘stranger danger’, (Foster 2015), children, particularly females, are being taught to avoid certain situations because of this fear. According to Jackson (2009), there is a sense of control, comfortability and familiarity within the home, and it is the unknown and a†¦show more content†¦(Australian Institute of Criminology 2014b). This disproportionate relationship is called the victimisation fear paradox; where there is a sizeable difference between an individual’s level of fear experienced compared to the statistical likelihood of actually falling victim to crime. (Ross 2012). When considering women’s most feared types of victimisation when alone on the streets—sexual assault and murder, (State Government of Victoria 2015), it is statistically more likely that these things will happen in an individual s place of residence; 55% of Australian murders and 60% of reported sexual assaults in 2011 occurred in the victim’s home, with only 16% and 7% occurring on the streets, respectively. (Australian Institute of Criminology 2014a). In addition, assault on the street in 2011 was nearly three times higher in male victims than females, with only 8% of all assaults against women happening on the street, compared with 22% of for men. Of course there are risks involved with being alone in certain places at certain times, and it is a matter of basic common sense regarding safety, however the concept of ‘stranger danger’ is not statistically what needs to be feared: it is the people we know that are more likely to be a risk. (Australian Institute of Criminology