Urban violence is deeply shaped by gender norms and the power relations that align with these norms. While women and girls are disproportionately affected by intimate partner violence (IPV) and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV), with one in every 3 women and girls experiencing some form of it during their lifetime, men – particularly young men- are overrepresented both as victims and perpetrators of lethal violence. Harmful constructions of masculinity linked to power, status, territorial control, risk-taking, and the use of force often cut across private and public forms of violence.
In many cities, these gender norms are especially visible in violence occurring in public spaces, including street violence linked to both illicit activity, such as drug markets, trafficking, and organized criminal groups, but also to notions of respect, identity and place. Control of territory, visibility, and reputation in public space is frequently enforced through violence. Studies demonstrate that while fear may be a constant experience, the way this fear manifests or has impact can vary according to norms and expectations across genders. As a result, urban insecurity is experienced unevenly across genders, ages, and neighborhoods.
Cities are increasingly recognizing that effective violence prevention requires engaging with masculinities across this continuum, and in both private and public places. It is crucial to integrate gender perspectives into public safety and drug-policy responses, addressing harmful social norms, and aligning GBV prevention with broader urban violence reduction strategies if we want to address the root causes of many forms of violence.
In this webinar, PiOC and European Forum for Urban Security (EFUS) partners will:
- Examine how masculinities and gender norms shape violence in both private and public spaces, including IPV, GBV, community violence , and violence associated with illicit markets;
- Share city-level experiences of integrating gender analysis into urban safety, violence prevention, and responses to organized crime;
- Discuss practical challenges in navigating gender norms in street-based outreach, group violence intervention, and public-space safety strategies;
- Foster cross-regional learning between U.S. and European cities on gender-responsive and gender-transformative approaches to urban violence prevention.
