This research explores the intersection of gender-based violence, urban safety, and care networks in the lives of young women living in both middle-class and marginalized neighborhoods in Córdoba, Argentina. Conducted in 2022, the study utilized a qualitative methodology, including 30 in-depth interviews and a six-month urban ethnography, yielding 350 pages of transcribed interviews and approximately 400 visual documents (photographs and videos). The collected data were systematically coded and analyzed using the qualitative research software.
Key Findings
The study highlights how young women navigate and experience various forms of gender-based violence in public spaces, ranging from verbal harassment and stalking to femicide. The research develops a nuanced definition of public space violence, emphasizing elements such as unpredictability, temporary immobilization, and heightened scrutiny of women’s physical appearance. Moving beyond binary understandings of safety and danger, the study proposes that urban safety should be seen as a fluid concept negotiated between risk and visibility. The research introduces the notion of "subversive visibility", describing how women reclaim public spaces through political presence and collective action. The study redefines care as a collective and political act rather than just an individual responsibility. It introduces the concept of "collective care", emphasizing shared responsibility, the creation of safe physical spaces, and the role of feminist mobilizations in strengthening support networks.
Theoretical Contributions and Impact
This research makes a significant contribution to urban sociology, gender studies, and interdisciplinary urban research. The findings have been recognized by the Network for Women and Habitat, which acknowledged the study’s interdisciplinary approach and its relevance to urban planning and social policy in Latin America. By integrating spatial, social, and gendered dimensions, this study advances the understanding of urban experiences of young women, providing a framework for future research and policy initiatives aimed at creating safer and more inclusive cities.
Before making the dataset available in the Qualitative Data Archive, interview transcripts were anonymized.
