Gendered mobility and violence in the Sao Paulo metro, Brazil

With about 12 million inhabitants, Sao Paulo, Brazil, is the largest city in South America. As in many other major southern hemisphere cities, this extreme concentration of people imposes a number of mobility and security challenges. The objective of this article was to investigate the space-time patterns of mobility and violent victimisation in Sao Paulo's metro stations from a gender perspective. The methodology combines use of a Geographical Information System (GIS), statistical analysis through negative binomial regression modelling and hypothesis testing. Results indicate that mobility and the level of victimisation are gender dependent. Women are at higher risk of victimisation than men in Sao Paulo's central metro station, while men run higher risk of violence at end stations - both notably during late night periods. The presence of employees reduces the risk of violence, except during the mornings. The article suggests that crime prevention initiatives need to be gender informed and sensitive to the particular spatial and temporal features of rapid transit environments.

Automated summary

The study found that mobility patterns and violent victimization at Sao Paulo metro stations are gender-dependent, with women at higher risk of victimization at central stations and men at higher risk of violence at end stations, especially during late night periods. The presence of employees reduces the risk of violence, except during mornings. Crime prevention initiatives need to consider gender differences and the specific spatial and temporal features of rapid transit environments.