KWDI Korean Women’s Development Institute

In this report, we aimed to compare general risk factors that threaten safety to women related risks, and to identify difference between men and women in their awareness and experiences in safety, and those that may be evident in the way they handle such situations. we also attempts to determine the different perception of men and women towards the H1N1 virus which tops the news as an important factor that threaten the safety of the general public an towards child sexual abuse.

For this purpose, we analyzed previously studies, literature, mass media reports  and overseas cases pertaining as well as workshops and specialist Q and A pertaining to women’s safety. Also, our own survey on women’s awareness of risk, conditions of risk, and safety management was conducted and the results analyzed.

Perception towards danger in existing theoretical debates are divided into risk objectivism and Risk-Constructivism and while the former claims that new risks were introduced to the modern society, the latter claims that it is not so much new risks arose but that perception of risk has changed. This study’s analysis focuses on risk awareness based on the position of risk constructivism.

The result based on the questionnaire showed that women had experienced such risks two times  more than did men. It means that in the cases of having experienced women related risks (sexual assault, sexual discrimination, physical, verbal, and emotional family violence), women are more vulnerable than men. Also, Number of those complaining of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was the highest, and the most serious risk was physical family violence followed by verbal and emotional family violence, crimes committed with child victims, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse, in that order.

Overall, women are more likely to answer that 'this listed risks would happen to me'  than men, therefore, general risks perception of women is more sensitive than that of men even the risks are not women related-risks of exual assault, sexual discrimination, physical, verbal, and emotional family violence. When it comes to safety of spaces, men respond 'all spaces are generally safer', however, women are more likely to 'listed spaces of parking lot, road, house, park, market, etc. are not safe' Also, it could be seen that level of risk increases in all spaces during night hours or early morning hours when compared to daytime hours.

When looking at the possibility of occurrence for various risks, women believed there is a higher possibility of occurrence for both the H1N1 virus and sexual abuse than did men. In addition, men and women both replied that they are more fearful of H1N1 than they are of sexual abuse, cannot personally control it, and can leave a greater effect on the future generation.

When answers of those who experienced women related risks were analyzed, in sexual abuse, 95% of women tended to tell about it to only the closest of acquaintances or not tell anyone at all, showing a complete lack of active reaction. In contrast, men showed a more active reaction. In order to identify the public opinion on risk management policies, trust in the government or private agencies was observed and it was found that trust in government agencies was very low regardless of sex, education, or economic standard. Such low trust in public agencies can act as factors that keep victims of sexual abuse from actively seeking help from public agencies.

Next, as a precedent of foreign policy for women’s safety, the Frauen-Werk-Stadt project of Vienna, Austria was introduced.  Vienna has long been consistently striving to plan and implement environments and living conveniences that are not only man-centered who are paid to work but for those who are not paid to work such as household work and family work and as a result, The Frauen-Werk-Stadt city plan, a project for a women friendly city construction, was built. This city put forth effort in designing spaces that accommodate pedestrians, children, and the elderly, and a space that can initiate communication between neighbors, and now, it is recognized as a revolutionary space for the safety of women’s safety and convenience. Also, lectures for women’s safety and literature for crime prevention provided by the city of Vienna was introduced.

As another foreign example, Japan’s safety street making and safety plan for children of Japan were introduced. In Japan, local citizens initiate crime prevention volunteer services, partake in safety map making, and promote projects such as Everyday Regulations, actively implementing and executing specific and comprehensive policies for protecting women and children.

Last, this study presents policy directions for women’s safety in Korea based on the suggestions found through such foreign cases. It especially includes making safe places such as restrooms, parking lots, streets, apartments, an parks, and improvement of legal and institutional help as well as medical services for women who have experienced sexual harassment abuse and family violence.