Use of Space and Safety Perceptions from a Gender Perspective: University Campus, Student Lodging, and Leisure Spots in Concepción (Chile)

Prada-Trigo, José; Quijada, Paula; Varela, Gabriela

doi:10.3390/socsci14060348

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Use of Space and Safety Perceptions from a Gender Perspective: University Campus, Student Lodging, and Leisure Spots in Concepción (Chile)

by

José Prada-Trigo

^1,*,

Paula Quijada

² and

Gabriela Varela

³

¹

Department of Geography, University of Valladolid, Plaza del Campus Universitario s/n, 47011 Valladolid, CP, Spain

²

Department of Geography, University of Concepción, Victoria 486-490, Concepción CP 4030001, Chile

³

Department of Research & Development, University of Concepción, Barrio Universitario s/n, Concepción CP 4030001, Chile

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(6), 348; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14060348

Submission received: 22 January 2025 / Revised: 13 May 2025 / Accepted: 23 May 2025 / Published: 29 May 2025

(This article belongs to the Section Gender Studies)

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Abstract

This paper explores the different perceptions of safety of male and female university students, analyzing the gendered construction of space across three key settings of student life. The study employs a qualitative methodology based on 20 in-depth interviews conducted with both male and female students on the main campus of the Universidad de Concepción (Chile). The results show that female students adopt avoidance and precautionary strategies when navigating university and leisure spaces. These strategies limit their freedom of movement and contrast with the more unconstrained spatial behaviors reported by male students. The findings also reveal a perceived loss of safety as spaces become more communal and less private, particularly for female participants. This research underscores the need to better understand how gendered perceptions of safety shape everyday spatial practices within academic environments.

Keywords: studentification; gender equality; safety perception

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MDPI and ACS Style

Prada-Trigo, J.; Quijada, P.; Varela, G. Use of Space and Safety Perceptions from a Gender Perspective: University Campus, Student Lodging, and Leisure Spots in Concepción (Chile). Soc. Sci. 2025, 14, 348. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14060348

AMA Style

Prada-Trigo J, Quijada P, Varela G. Use of Space and Safety Perceptions from a Gender Perspective: University Campus, Student Lodging, and Leisure Spots in Concepción (Chile). Social Sciences. 2025; 14(6):348. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14060348

Chicago/Turabian Style

Prada-Trigo, José, Paula Quijada, and Gabriela Varela. 2025. "Use of Space and Safety Perceptions from a Gender Perspective: University Campus, Student Lodging, and Leisure Spots in Concepción (Chile)" Social Sciences 14, no. 6: 348. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14060348

APA Style

Prada-Trigo, J., Quijada, P., & Varela, G. (2025). Use of Space and Safety Perceptions from a Gender Perspective: University Campus, Student Lodging, and Leisure Spots in Concepción (Chile). Social Sciences, 14(6), 348. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14060348

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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Use of Space and Safety Perceptions from a Gender Perspective: University Campus, Student Lodging, and Leisure Spots in Concepción (Chile)

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