People’s perceptions of places – a series of vignettes #5
Street literacy
A survey of 10 to 12 year-old British children revealed that a third of the respondents described the city centre as dangerous and twenty per cent of them described the place as violent. The children that were showed the most unease lived out of town. This suggests that city children had developed a kind of ‘street literacy’. They had learned to relate better to the inner city (Freeman & Tranter, 2011, 101).
A survey of 10 to 12 year-old British children revealed that a third of the respondents described the city centre as dangerous and twenty per cent of them described the place as violent. The children that were showed the most unease lived out of town. This suggests that city children had developed a kind of ‘street literacy’. They had learned to relate better to the inner city (Freeman & Tranter, 2011, 101).
Real fear of crime
A study from Gateshead in northeast England suggested that teenage children’s fear of places were grounded in reality. Young people reported instances of victimisation, including violent crime and harassment that reflected their fear of crime. Girls, in particular, had the highest levels of fear despite the fact that they were less likely to be victimised (Freeman & Tranter, 2011,25)
A study from Gateshead in northeast England suggested that teenage children’s fear of places were grounded in reality. Young people reported instances of victimisation, including violent crime and harassment that reflected their fear of crime. Girls, in particular, had the highest levels of fear despite the fact that they were less likely to be victimised (Freeman & Tranter, 2011,25)
Safe suburbs to hang out in
In Belgrade, Serbia, where many people are materially poor, the housing estates were deemed to be comparatively safe for young people. This was attributed to the lack of mobility among the Serbian people that had contributed to a supportive sense of community. Young people were given a great deal of autonomy, free to roam from place to place, to select friends and acquaintances, develop social networks that act as ‘safety nets’ against perceived risks in the community (Tomanovic & Petrovic, 2010).
In Belgrade, Serbia, where many people are materially poor, the housing estates were deemed to be comparatively safe for young people. This was attributed to the lack of mobility among the Serbian people that had contributed to a supportive sense of community. Young people were given a great deal of autonomy, free to roam from place to place, to select friends and acquaintances, develop social networks that act as ‘safety nets’ against perceived risks in the community (Tomanovic & Petrovic, 2010).