The Hidden Cost of Safety
Fear of harassment forces women to make costly sacrifices in their daily lives. These trade-offs represent a broader violation of women’s rights to education, mobility, and economic opportunity.
The Trade-offs Women Make
1. Education: Choosing Safety Over Quality
Women are willing to choose a college that is 8.8% (or 5.8 ranks) lower in quality for additional safety. This means a woman might select a college ranked 50th instead of 45th, or 100th instead of 95th – simply because it feels safer.
This represents a fundamental violation of the right to quality education. When safety concerns override educational aspirations, it limits women’s potential and perpetuates inequality.
2. Time: 27 Extra Minutes Every Day
Women are willing to travel an additional 27 minutes daily – or 40% more than their daily travel time – for additional safety. Over a year, this adds up to:
- 164 hours of extra travel time
- Nearly 7 full days spent commuting
- Time that could be spent on work, education, or rest
This “time tax” disproportionately affects women, limiting their ability to participate fully in economic and social life.
3. Money: INR 17,500 More Per Year
Women are willing to travel by a route that costs INR 17,500 (USD 250) more per year as long as it is safer. For many families, especially those with limited income, this represents a significant financial burden.
This “safety premium” is often unaffordable, forcing women to choose between safety and financial stability.
Why These Trade-offs Matter
These sacrifices are not just individual choices – they represent systemic barriers that limit women’s freedom and opportunities:
- Educational Inequality: When women choose lower-quality colleges for safety, it perpetuates educational and economic inequality
- Economic Impact: Extra travel time and costs reduce women’s economic productivity and financial resources
- Psychological Toll: Constant fear and the need to make these trade-offs takes a psychological toll on women
- Rights Violation: These forced choices violate women’s fundamental rights to education, mobility, and economic opportunity
Beyond the Numbers
Behind these statistics are real women making difficult choices every day:
- A student choosing a college closer to home, even though it offers fewer opportunities
- A working woman taking a longer, more expensive route to avoid harassment hotspots
- A mother spending extra time and money to ensure her daughter’s safety
What Needs to Change
These trade-offs should not be necessary. We need:
- Safer Public Spaces: Infrastructure and policies that make all spaces safe for women
- Better Data: Understanding where and when harassment occurs to target interventions
- Evidence-Based Solutions: Programs proven to reduce harassment and create safer environments
- Systemic Change: Addressing root causes and changing attitudes that enable harassment
Our Commitment
At Aparajita, we believe no woman should have to choose between safety and opportunity. Through our research, funding, and partnerships, we’re working to create solutions that eliminate the need for these trade-offs.
By bridging the data gap and supporting evidence-based interventions, we can build a future where women can pursue education, work, and life without fear.