Public Transport or a Landmine: Insecurities, Harassment and its Effect on Mental Health in Women Using Public Transport System in Chennai District, Tamil Nadu
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26911/jepublichealth.2024.09.04.10Abstract
Background: Crimes against women committed while traveling in public transportation is seldom understood, analyzed, and reported. The World Health Organization has stated that any form of violence against women must be considered a public health emergency. As a result of abuse, their overall health is impacted. This study was conducted to find the prevalence of insecurity and characterization of harassment among female passengers while traveling on public transport.
Subjects and Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted in the Chennai district, Tamilnadu between November 2023 to March 2024. A total of 270 women above 18 years of age and using public transport for a minimum period of 6 months for daily commuting were included as study participants selected using a simple random sampling method. Data related to Subjective fear of traveling alone in public transport was used as a dependent variable which was collected using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire comprised of questions related to sociodemographic characteristics, having faced verbal/physical harassment, and having experienced stalking while traveling in public transport, which were used as independent variables. Subjective response to harassment was assessed using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Data was analyzed using SPPS version 26. Chi-square and logistic regression analysis were used to find the predictors that lead to the fear of traveling alone.
Results: A total of 270 participants were included in the study. The predictors for developing fear of travelling alone in public transport system were, belonging to a nuclear family (aOR= 2.12; 95% CI= 1.23 to 3.32), women who faced any kind of harassment (aOR= 2.56; 95% CI= 1.76 to 3.84), faced physical harassment (aOR= 3.92; 95% CI= 2.45 to 5.67) and faced verbal harassment (aOR= 4.11; 95% CI= 1.87 to 6.34).
Conclusion: It’s not only enough to bring about policies, but the common public must be educated about harassments that happen on public transport. A special task force must be formed to apprehend the assailants.
Keywords:
Harassment, gender-based violence, PTSD, fear of crime, mental healthCorrespondence
Sushmitha G. Postgraduate, Department of Community Medicine. Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, #7 Work Road, Chromepet, Chennai, 600044, Tamilnadu, India. Email: sushiglvr@gmail.com. Contact number: 8939208727.
References
Acquadro MD, Varetto A, Civilotti C (2022). Sexual harassment in the workplace: consequences and perceived self-efficacy in women and men witnesses and non-witnesses. J Behav Sci. 12(9): 326. doi: 10.3390/bs12090326
AlKheder S (2021). Promoting public transport as a strategy to reduce GHG emissions from private vehicles in Kuwait. J Environ Chal. 3: p.100075. doi: 10.1016/j.envc.2021.100075
Asaad A, Ibrahim A, El Seoud TA, Abdel-Moneim NM (2024). An Integrated Toolkit for Equality in Daily Urban Mobility in Saudi Arabia: Advancing Gender Mobility Indicators. J RESD, 10(1).doi:10.21622/resd.2024.10.1.782
Ball KS, Wesson CJ (2017). Perceptions of unwanted sexual behavior on public transport: exploring transport density and behavior severity. J Crime prev community. 19: 199-210. doi: 10.1057/s41300-017-0026-3
Beebeejaun Y (2017). Gender, urban space, and the right to everyday life. J Urban Aff, 39(3): 323-334. doi: 10.1080/07-352166.2016.1255526
Carver A, Veitch J (2020). Perceptions and patronage of public transport–are women different from men?. J Transp Health 19: 100955. doi: 0.1016/j.jth.2020.100955.
Ceccato V, Loukaitou-Sideris A (2022). Fear of sexual harassment and its impact on safety perceptions in transit environments: a global perspective. J Interpers Violence. 28(1): 26-48. doi: 10.1177/1077801221992874
Ceccato V, Näsman P, Langefors L (2021). Sexual violence on the move: An assessment of Youth’s victimization in public transportation. J Women Crim Jus. 31(4): 294-312. doi: 10.1080/08974454.2020.1733732
Collins RE (2016). Addressing the inconsistencies in fear of crime research: A meta-analytic review. J Crim Jus. 47: pp.21-31. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2016.06.004
Creamer M, Bell R, Failla S (2003). Psychometric properties of the impact of event scale revised. J Behav Res Ther. 41(12): 1489-1496. doi: 10.10-16/j.brat.2003.07.010
Goal 5. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Available at: https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal5 (Accessed 25.03.24).
Goulds S, Tanner S, Kalms N, Matthewson, G (2018). Unsafe in the City-The Everyday Experiences of Girls and Young Women: The State of the World's Girls 2018.
Hoor-Ul-Ain S (2020). Public sexual harassment mayhem on public transport in megacities-Karachi and London: A comparative review. J Aggres Viol Behav. 52: 101420. doi: 10.1016/j.avb.2020.101420
Hörcher D, Tirachini A (2021). A review of public transport economics. J Eco tran. 25: 100196. doi: 10.1016/j.ecotra.2021.100196
Ismawati I, Hutahaean ESH, Fahrudin A (2023). Feeling Unsafe Among Female Users of Crowded Public Transportation. KESANS: Int J Health Sci. 3(1): 38-46. doi: 10.54543/kesans.v3i1.236
Ison J, Forsdike K, Henry N, Hooker L, Taft A (2023). You’re just constantly on alert: Women and gender-diverse people’s experiences of sexual violence on public transport. J Interpers Violence. 38(21-22): 11617-11641. doi: 10.1177/08862605231186123
Kacharo DK, Teshome E, Woltamo T (2022). Safety and security of women and girls in public transport. J Urb, plan and tran research. 10(1): 1-19. doi: 10.1080/21650020.2022.2027268
Drishti IAS. (2024). NCRB’s Crime in India 2022 Report. Retrieved March 22, 2024. Available at: https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ncrbs-crime-in-india-2022-report
Sahu S, Shanker S, Kamat A, Barve A (2023). India’s public transportation system: the repercussions of COVID-19. J Pub tran. 15(2): 435-478. doi: 10.1007/s12469-023-00320-z
Shakeshaft C, Cohan A (1995). Sexual abuse of students by school personnel. Phi Delta Kappan. 76(7): 512.
Soto J, Orozco-Fontalvo M, Useche SA (2022). Public transportation and fear of crime at BRT Systems: Approaching to the case of Barranquilla (Colombia) through integrated choice and latent variable models. J Transp Res A Policy: Pract. 155: 142-160. doi: 10.1016/j.tra.2021.11.001.
Statistista (2024). Crime in Sweden. Available at: https://www.statista.com/topics/7088/crime-in-sweden/. (Accessed: 18.05. 2024).
Stjernborg V (2024). Triggers for feelings of insecurity and perceptions of safety in relation to public transport; the experiences of young and active travellers. J App Mob, doi: 10.1080/23800127.2024.2318095.
Tanaka M, Hirano Y, Takanashi R, Numata N, Sutoh C, Yoshikawa T, Shimizu E (2023). Measurement of work-related psychological injury with depressive symptoms. BMC psych. 23(1): 681.
Tiznado-Aitken I, Sagaris L (2024). Un-covering gender-based violence and harassment in public transport: Lessons for spatial and transport justice. J Tran Geo. 114: 103766. doi: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2023.103766
UN-Habitat. (2024). United Nations System-wide Guidelines on Safer Cities and Human Settlements. Available AT: https://unhabitat.org/united-nations-system-wide-guidelines-on-safer-cities-and-human-settlements. (Accessed: 23.3.24).
Valan ML (2020). Victimology of sexual harassment on public transportation: Evidence from India. J Victimology Vic Justice. 3(1): 24-37. doi: 10.1177/25166069209273
World Bank (2023). Designing Public Transport in India That Works for All. World Bank
Yasir S, Ahmad T, Enam A (2022). An analysis of the harassments and challenges faced by public transport users in a developing country of South Asia. J Fron Built Envi. 8: 1049121. doi: 10.3389/fbuil.2022.1049121
Zietz S, Das M (2018). Nobody teases good girls: A qualitative study on perceptions of sexual harassment among young men in a slum of Mumbai. J Glob Public Health. 13(9): 1229-1240. doi: 10.1080/17441692.2017.1335337.
Downloads
Published
2024-10-16
Issue
Vol. 9 No. 4 (2024)
Section
Articles
1.jpg)
