Intersectional (in)securities - multiply marginalised women’s experiences of (un)safety on public transport

In recent years, equitable access to safe and inclusive transport has become a policy priority. However, women’s experiences in public transport are still shaped by gender-specific safety concerns, and studies on marginalisation reveal forms of exclusion based on age, class, queerness, and racialisation. To complement existing research that mainly analyses these dimensions in isolation, we take an intersectional approach and focus on mobility biographies to study how multiply marginalised women experience (un)safety on public transport in Munich. Through a qualitative, ethnographic research design, we identify key factors influencing their sense of (un)safety: the spatial and social environment, intersectional experiences of discrimination, and their specific socialisation as marginalised women. We found that despite experiences of harassment or violence, many women reported feeling relatively safe. This paradox is linked to them normalising harassment as something to expect as women on public transport. Participants’ feelings of (un)safety were shaped by life-long socialisation, including cautionary tales from family and friends as well as past experiences. To navigate feelings of unsafety, participants developed strategies to minimise risks, which represented an additional mental load. Our study highlights the need for mobility policies that tackle the structural roots of transport-related unsafety through intersectional and proactive justice-oriented planning.