Women feel more fearful in nature than men.
Women feel more fearful in nature, especially with social threats, per a new study.
Why it matters
- Women feel less safe in nature than men.
- Social threats in nature disproportionately affect women.
- This could impact women's access to and enjoyment of natural spaces.
By the numbers
- Study involved hundreds of UK adults across three experiments.
- Women consistently reported more fear and higher risk perception.
- Dense vegetation and social threats amplified women's fears.
The big picture
- Gender differences in safety perceptions could lead to unequal nature access.
- Understanding these fears can help design safer natural environments.
- Addressing crime and gender-based violence in public spaces is crucial.
What they're saying
- "Women consistently reported higher levels of fear and felt more at risk in natural environments than men." - Study author Anna Bornioli.
- Commenters noted societal narratives and implications of the findings.
Caveats
- The study used virtual experiments, not real-world scenarios.
- Participants' companionship status (alone or in company) was not specified.
What’s next
- Further research into reasons behind gender differences in safety perceptions.
- Exploring ways to improve perceived safety in natural spaces.