I only realized the “safety tax” I carried after living in Dubai. Growing up in Kolkata and across Indian cities, I was always on red alert—no headphones, constant scanning, guarded movement.
Two years in Dubai changed that. I now walk with headphones on, without fear of being attacked or casually violated. Even in the most crowded metro, men don’t dare misbehave.
Women’s safety is not accidental—it’s the result of strict policies, effective policing, and real consequences.
Excellent piece Harnidh. One of the things that always stand out to me when people talk about women's safety is the unachievable idea that women can be 'safer'. But safer compared to whom? To other women who unfortunately don't have the means to afford being 'safer' 24/7. When we talk about the safety premium, there is always the large segment that cannot afford it and therefore, will still be put into unsafe situations regardless. So the theory runs on the whole idea that there will always be an unsafe segment. The generator analogy you used seems very apt here. We don't need more private generators, but the promise that electricity is a safe bet. And that the lack of it signals to something being inherently wrong.
Loved the piece. I think one of the most important points was: "None of these players has any incentive to make public space safer. Their business model depends on public space remaining dangerous enough that people will pay for private protection."
This really tells me more than anything that it's a policy issue more than a market issue and the more entrenched the current players get, the harder it will be to shift the system due to corruption/lobbying.
I'd be curious what the "existing safe cities" did to achieve that outcome.
Very well thought out and beautifully written.
I only realized the “safety tax” I carried after living in Dubai. Growing up in Kolkata and across Indian cities, I was always on red alert—no headphones, constant scanning, guarded movement.
Two years in Dubai changed that. I now walk with headphones on, without fear of being attacked or casually violated. Even in the most crowded metro, men don’t dare misbehave.
Women’s safety is not accidental—it’s the result of strict policies, effective policing, and real consequences.
Excellent piece Harnidh. One of the things that always stand out to me when people talk about women's safety is the unachievable idea that women can be 'safer'. But safer compared to whom? To other women who unfortunately don't have the means to afford being 'safer' 24/7. When we talk about the safety premium, there is always the large segment that cannot afford it and therefore, will still be put into unsafe situations regardless. So the theory runs on the whole idea that there will always be an unsafe segment. The generator analogy you used seems very apt here. We don't need more private generators, but the promise that electricity is a safe bet. And that the lack of it signals to something being inherently wrong.
Looking forward to reading more from you.
Loved the piece. I think one of the most important points was: "None of these players has any incentive to make public space safer. Their business model depends on public space remaining dangerous enough that people will pay for private protection."
This really tells me more than anything that it's a policy issue more than a market issue and the more entrenched the current players get, the harder it will be to shift the system due to corruption/lobbying.
I'd be curious what the "existing safe cities" did to achieve that outcome.