Exploring Women’s Experience of Gender-Based Violence and Other Threats to Safety on Public Transport in Bangladesh

Abstract

Equal access to safe transport is increasingly conceptualised as a fundamental right for women, with demonstrated impact on health outcomes, social and economic mobility, and societal participation. This study analysed qualitative and quantitative data to examine travel patterns and experiences among 200 women (aged between 18-64 years) using paid transport for work or educational purposes in Bangladesh. Results showed that the women faced multiple threats to their safety, including gender-based violence, harassment and crime, and traffic and non-traffic injury and that the use of paid transport was associated with high levels of anxiety and fear. Despite these circumstances, the women were captive travellers, forced to make transport choices based on price, availability, and ease of travel rather than safety. Unable to choose safe transports, the women attempted to mitigate risks by changing their travel pattern and behaviour, and by restricted their travel frequency. These findings are discussed within the context of women’s rights and mobility justice.  

Creative Commons License
Except where otherwise noted, content in this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Published: 2021-12-01
Pages:158 to 173
Section:Special Issue: Policing and Preventing Gender Violence in the Global South
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How to Cite
King, J., King, M. ., Edwards, N. ., Carroll, J.-A., Watling, H. ., Anam, M. ., Bull, M. . and Oviedo-Trespalacios, O. . (2021) “Exploring Women’s Experience of Gender-Based Violence and Other Threats to Safety on Public Transport in Bangladesh”, International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 10(4), pp. 158-173. doi: 10.5204/ijcjsd.2086.

Author Biographies

Queensland University of Technology
 Australia

School of Public Health & Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology

Queensland University of Technology
 Australia

Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q), Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology

Queensland University of Technology
 Australia

School of Public Health & Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology

Queensland University of Technology
 Australia

School of Public Health & Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology

Queensland University of Technology
 Australia

School of Public Health & Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology

Jahangirnagar University
 Bangladesh

Department of Anthropology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Queensland University of Technology
 Australia

QUT Centre for Justice, School of Justice, Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice, Queensland University of Technology

Queensland University of Technology
 Australia

Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q), Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology