A Routine Activity Approach: Assessing Victimization by Gender in Transit Environments and Other Public Locations

Dennis M Savard

doi:10.4236/aasoci.2018.81004

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to examine how transit environments and other public spaces shape women’s and men’s victimization for simple assault, aggravated assault, sexual assault, robbery, and kidnapping crimes. This research applies routine activities theory to examine how everyday activities shape victimization within these environments. Using data from the Federal Bureau of Investigations’ 2014 National Incident-Based Reporting System, this research finds that women were more likely to be victimized in certain spaces such as shopping centers and transit terminals. Regarding certain violent crimes, it was also discovered that women were more likely to be robbed at shopping centers, grocery stores, parking lots/garages, and transit terminals. It is argued that understanding the vulnerability of simple assault, aggravated assault, sexual assault, robbery, and kidnapping victimization women have in transit environments and other public spaces may provide useful insight regarding preventing crime in these locations.

Highlights

Except for sexual assaults, it is a truism that men suffer more violent victimizations than women
The aim of this study is to examine the victimization of women in transit environments and other public spaces that are often found near transit environments, and how the gender gap in victimization is affected within these spaces
It might be expected that men would have a higher percentage of criminal victimization in the dataset based on ideas of victimization and who is more likely to be victimized, but the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) reports that more women than men are victims of crime

Summary

Introduction

Except for sexual assaults, it is a truism that men suffer more violent victimizations than women. The result has been criminological and victimological research taking on an androcentric tone that placed importance on men and overlooked crime against women Most studies that have examined the gender gap in crime have focused on the long-term trends in male and female victimization (Langton, et al, 2013). This important body of work has showed that the gender gap in crime is closing regarding victimization, most notably for aggravated and simple assaults (Lauritsen & Heimer 2008)

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Discussion

Conclusion