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Volume 40, Issue 2 (2025)
GeoRes 2025, 40(2): 143-149 |
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Received: 2025/05/10 | Accepted: 2025/06/15 | Published: 2025/06/20
Received: 2025/05/10 | Accepted: 2025/06/15 | Published: 2025/06/20
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Hoseini Lahoordi M, Nasiri A, Khezerlou P. Role of Urban Security Factors in Enhancing Women’s Presence in Public Urban Spaces in Keshavarz Boulevard, Tehran. GeoRes 2025; 40 (2) :143-149
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1- Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahr-e-Qods Center (Sh.C.), Islamic Azad University, Shahr-e-Qods, Iran
2- Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
3- Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tabriz University of Islamic Arts, Tabriz, Iran
2- Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
3- Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tabriz University of Islamic Arts, Tabriz, Iran
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Background
In contemporary approaches, urban space is not merely a physical or aesthetic construct but a dynamic social environment for human interactions. However, urban design often overlooks the social and symbolic dimensions of space, resulting in many public areas being inefficient and lacking meaning. A significant challenge in this context is the limited presence of women in public spaces due to factors such as insecurity, street harassment, and inadequate environmental design, issues that directly impact social justice, social capital, and urban identity.
Previous Studies
Previous studies have extensively examined the roles of both physical and non-physical factors in shaping women’s sense of security in public spaces. Foster and colleagues, as well as Mahadevia and Lathia, emphasize the importance of population presence, nighttime activities, and informal surveillance as complements to lighting and physical design (Foster et al., 2010; Foster et al., 2013; Foster et al., 2016; Mahadevia & Lathia, 2019). Datta and Ahmed have demonstrated that prior experiences of harassment and cultural contexts can generate feelings of insecurity even in seemingly safe environments (Datta & Ahmed, 2020). Karimi et al. have found that in Varamin parks, physical factors had a greater impact on women’s security than non-physical ones (Karimi et al., 2024). Other local studies have also highlighted the significance of physical quality, sense of place, and environmental order (Salehi & Hosseini, 2021; Mohammadi Birang & Azar, 2019; Shariati Mazinani & Foroghzadeh, 2017; Yaran et al., 2019; Roosta & Ahmadi, 2019). Ghodsi and colleagues further have identified the mental dimension of security and gender as the most critical determinants of perceived insecurity (Ghodsi et al., 2017).
Aim(s)
This study, focusing on Tehran’s Keshavarz Boulevard, one of the city’s most prominent and heavily frequented public spaces, aims to examine the role of urban security components in enhancing women’s social presence.
Research Type
This study was conducted using a quantitative approach.
Research Society, Place and Time
This study was conducted in 2024/2025 on Keshavarz Boulevard in Tehran. As one of the city’s oldest, most prominent, and pedestrian-friendly urban axes, Keshavarz Boulevard has long served as a major thoroughfare for citizens, particularly women, students, and visitors to medical and administrative centers, due to its physical, historical, and social significance. The study population comprised all women present on Keshavarz Boulevard, categorized into three age groups: 13–18 years, 19–64 years, and over 65 years.
Sampling Method and Number
Sampling in this study was conducted using a simple random method during autumn and winter 2024/2025. Based on the Cochran formula and considering a 95% confidence level and a 5% sampling error, a sample of 374 women was selected from the study population.
Used Devices & Materials
The primary data collection tool in this study was a researcher-designed questionnaire, developed based on a systematic review of theoretical literature and previous studies. The final questionnaire consisted of 37 closed-ended items using a five-point Likert scale (ranging from “very high” to “very low”) and covered the three dimensions of urban security: physical, social, and mental. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 27, employing statistical tests such as Pearson correlation, ANOVA, and linear regression.
Findings by Text
The findings indicated that three components, space design and physical form, prior experiences of insecurity, and the role of gender in space, showed significant differences across age groups, suggesting that women’s perception of security is influenced by their biological and social contexts. In contrast, components such as lighting, neighborhood social structure, and social trust did not differ among groups and were perceived uniformly across all ages as minimum elements of security (Table 1).
Table 1. Results of One-Way ANOVA test among different age groups (between-group df=2)
Pearson correlation analysis revealed a positive and significant relationship between all dimensions of security (physical, social, and mental) and women’s social presence. Among these, urban cleanliness (r=0.604) and physical design (r=0.594) exhibited the highest correlations, highlighting the importance of an individual’s initial sensory encounter with space (Table 2).
Table 2. Results of Pearson correlation test between different age groups
Multiple regression analysis showed that the physical dimension, with an R² of 0.79, contributed the most to explaining women’s presence. Within this dimension, components such as space design, accessibility, and lighting had the greatest impact. In the social dimension, inclusivity and time of day (night/day) were more influential, while in the mental dimension, prior experiences of insecurity and the role of gender in space demonstrated the strongest effects (Table 3).
Table 3. Results of Linear Regression Test (Significance level=0.0001)
Main Comparisons to Similar Studies
Compared to similar studies, the present research highlighted several distinctive points. First, the findings in the physical dimension align with those of Foster et al. [Foster et al., 2010; 2013; 2016] and Jane Jacobs’ “eyes on the street” theory, demonstrating that space design, cleanliness, and accessibility play a central role in women’s social presence. However, unlike some previous studies, this study assigned greater importance to mental components, with prior experiences of insecurity and perceptions of gender in space showing the highest impact coefficients, consistent with the findings of Datta & Ahmed and Ghodsi et al. [Datta & Ahmed, 2020; Ghodsi et al., 2017].
In the social dimension, contrary to studies that consider it less significant, the findings revealed that inclusivity and equal access to space are directly linked to security and women’s presence [Mahadevia & Lathia, 2019; Beebeejaun, 2009]. Moreover, the emphasis on the temporal dynamics of security corresponds with the studies of Taylor et al. and Navarrete-Hernandez et al. [Taylor et al., 2019; Navarrete-Hernandez et al., 2023]. Finally, the results align with Carmona’s spatial justice framework [Carmona, 2019], interpreting security not merely as a technical issue but as a fundamental civic right.
Suggestions
Based on the findings and limitations of this study, several recommendations are proposed for future research:
In contemporary approaches, urban space is not merely a physical or aesthetic construct but a dynamic social environment for human interactions. However, urban design often overlooks the social and symbolic dimensions of space, resulting in many public areas being inefficient and lacking meaning. A significant challenge in this context is the limited presence of women in public spaces due to factors such as insecurity, street harassment, and inadequate environmental design, issues that directly impact social justice, social capital, and urban identity.
Previous Studies
Previous studies have extensively examined the roles of both physical and non-physical factors in shaping women’s sense of security in public spaces. Foster and colleagues, as well as Mahadevia and Lathia, emphasize the importance of population presence, nighttime activities, and informal surveillance as complements to lighting and physical design (Foster et al., 2010; Foster et al., 2013; Foster et al., 2016; Mahadevia & Lathia, 2019). Datta and Ahmed have demonstrated that prior experiences of harassment and cultural contexts can generate feelings of insecurity even in seemingly safe environments (Datta & Ahmed, 2020). Karimi et al. have found that in Varamin parks, physical factors had a greater impact on women’s security than non-physical ones (Karimi et al., 2024). Other local studies have also highlighted the significance of physical quality, sense of place, and environmental order (Salehi & Hosseini, 2021; Mohammadi Birang & Azar, 2019; Shariati Mazinani & Foroghzadeh, 2017; Yaran et al., 2019; Roosta & Ahmadi, 2019). Ghodsi and colleagues further have identified the mental dimension of security and gender as the most critical determinants of perceived insecurity (Ghodsi et al., 2017).
Aim(s)
This study, focusing on Tehran’s Keshavarz Boulevard, one of the city’s most prominent and heavily frequented public spaces, aims to examine the role of urban security components in enhancing women’s social presence.
Research Type
This study was conducted using a quantitative approach.
Research Society, Place and Time
This study was conducted in 2024/2025 on Keshavarz Boulevard in Tehran. As one of the city’s oldest, most prominent, and pedestrian-friendly urban axes, Keshavarz Boulevard has long served as a major thoroughfare for citizens, particularly women, students, and visitors to medical and administrative centers, due to its physical, historical, and social significance. The study population comprised all women present on Keshavarz Boulevard, categorized into three age groups: 13–18 years, 19–64 years, and over 65 years.
Sampling Method and Number
Sampling in this study was conducted using a simple random method during autumn and winter 2024/2025. Based on the Cochran formula and considering a 95% confidence level and a 5% sampling error, a sample of 374 women was selected from the study population.
Used Devices & Materials
The primary data collection tool in this study was a researcher-designed questionnaire, developed based on a systematic review of theoretical literature and previous studies. The final questionnaire consisted of 37 closed-ended items using a five-point Likert scale (ranging from “very high” to “very low”) and covered the three dimensions of urban security: physical, social, and mental. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 27, employing statistical tests such as Pearson correlation, ANOVA, and linear regression.
Findings by Text
The findings indicated that three components, space design and physical form, prior experiences of insecurity, and the role of gender in space, showed significant differences across age groups, suggesting that women’s perception of security is influenced by their biological and social contexts. In contrast, components such as lighting, neighborhood social structure, and social trust did not differ among groups and were perceived uniformly across all ages as minimum elements of security (Table 1).
Table 1. Results of One-Way ANOVA test among different age groups (between-group df=2)
Pearson correlation analysis revealed a positive and significant relationship between all dimensions of security (physical, social, and mental) and women’s social presence. Among these, urban cleanliness (r=0.604) and physical design (r=0.594) exhibited the highest correlations, highlighting the importance of an individual’s initial sensory encounter with space (Table 2).
Table 2. Results of Pearson correlation test between different age groups
Multiple regression analysis showed that the physical dimension, with an R² of 0.79, contributed the most to explaining women’s presence. Within this dimension, components such as space design, accessibility, and lighting had the greatest impact. In the social dimension, inclusivity and time of day (night/day) were more influential, while in the mental dimension, prior experiences of insecurity and the role of gender in space demonstrated the strongest effects (Table 3).
Table 3. Results of Linear Regression Test (Significance level=0.0001)
Main Comparisons to Similar Studies
Compared to similar studies, the present research highlighted several distinctive points. First, the findings in the physical dimension align with those of Foster et al. [Foster et al., 2010; 2013; 2016] and Jane Jacobs’ “eyes on the street” theory, demonstrating that space design, cleanliness, and accessibility play a central role in women’s social presence. However, unlike some previous studies, this study assigned greater importance to mental components, with prior experiences of insecurity and perceptions of gender in space showing the highest impact coefficients, consistent with the findings of Datta & Ahmed and Ghodsi et al. [Datta & Ahmed, 2020; Ghodsi et al., 2017].
In the social dimension, contrary to studies that consider it less significant, the findings revealed that inclusivity and equal access to space are directly linked to security and women’s presence [Mahadevia & Lathia, 2019; Beebeejaun, 2009]. Moreover, the emphasis on the temporal dynamics of security corresponds with the studies of Taylor et al. and Navarrete-Hernandez et al. [Taylor et al., 2019; Navarrete-Hernandez et al., 2023]. Finally, the results align with Carmona’s spatial justice framework [Carmona, 2019], interpreting security not merely as a technical issue but as a fundamental civic right.
Suggestions
Based on the findings and limitations of this study, several recommendations are proposed for future research:
- Complementary qualitative studies: Employ in-depth interviews or participatory observation to gain a deeper understanding of women’s personal experiences in urban spaces.
- Comparative analysis across different urban areas: Compare women’s perceptions of security in the northern, central, and southern parts of the city to examine the influence of cultural and economic factors as mediating and control parameters.
- Cross-gender study: Investigate men’s perspectives on women’s security to identify prevailing stereotypes or cognitive conflicts within the community.
Conclusion
Physical, social, and mental factors related to urban security have a significant impact on women’s presence in public spaces. Elements such as environmental design, cleanliness, inclusivity of space, and mental experiences of insecurity play a prominent role.
Acknowledgment: None declared.
Ethical Permission: None declared.
Conflict of Interest: None declared.
Authors’ Contributions: Hosseini Lahoordi M (First Author), Introduction Writer/Principal Researcher/Statistical Analyst (40%); Nasiri A (Second Author), Methodologist/Principal Researcher/Discussion Writer (30%); Khezrloo P (Third Author), Principal Researcher/Statistical Analyst/Discussion Writer (30%)
Funding: None declared.
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