Gendered feelings of unsafety and avoidance of local central areas in Finland 2001–2016

Abstract

There is a lack of knowledge about fear-of-crime-related place avoidance in Finland. International studies have examined different aspects of fear of crime and avoidance. However, examinations of the association between feelings of unsafety and place avoidance are rarer. This study takes on a less-researched perspective and examines the association between feelings of unsafety and avoidance of local central areas in Finland in 2001-2016. It conducts a gendered assessment of the association and distinguishes between different degrees of urbanization. As a methodological contribution, this study conducts cross-sectional time-series analysis. The research data consist of Finnish survey data from 2001 to 2016. The results show that levels of feelings of unsafety and avoidance in local central areas remain relatively stable during the examined period. Furthermore, the considered association is stronger among women than among men, regardless of the degree of municipality or neighbourhood urbanization. Interestingly, the strength of the considered association is more stable among women than among men. Furthermore, of all the considered independent and contextual factors, gender is the most consistently relevant factor in all areas of different degrees of urbanization. Implications of the results are discussed.

Worry about crime and loneliness in nine countries of the former Soviet Union

“…It is uncertain what underlies this difference and whether it relates to methodological, social and/or cultural differences etc., although our finding seems to concur with earlier research which showed that women were more likely to have a high level of worry about crime than men ( Allen, 2006 ), which may be related to a range of factors including women's greater physical and social vulnerability and differences in socialisation ( Hale, 1996 ; Henderson & Bialeschki, 1993 ), and that women are more likely to engage in avoidance behaviours ( Hale, 1996 ). Indeed, in line with a number of studies that have highlighted the predominance of crime-related avoidance behaviours in women ( Kujala, 2022 ), it has been suggested that such constraints may become internalised and normalised with potentially detrimental consequences for some women ( Lorenc et al, 2012 ) – including possibly an increased risk of loneliness.…”

“…Indeed, this might help explain the finding that if older adults experience fear of crime, they suffer more than younger people ( Greve, 1998 ). In particular, research has highlighted the detrimental effects of fear and worry about crime on older adults' activity and mobility patterns ( Pain, 2000 ) including place avoidance ( Kujala, 2022 ) and limiting movement after dark ( Whitley & Prince, 2005 ). This might be important for loneliness among older adults in our study countries – especially in the context of other factors.…”