Exploring the fear of crime gender paradox using quasi-experimental methods

Women report greater fear of crime than men. This presents a gender paradox, as men are much more likely to be victims of strangers than women. Michelle explored this phenomenon in an innovative way using three experiments. She showed that the fear of crime gender paradox may be about anger and sadness rather than fear; that gender dynamics may reflect reactions to threat rather than crime; and that women’s physiological responses towards crime corresponded with their self-reports, but men’s did not. These findings can guide how we respond to the community’s perceptions of safety and reduce associated anxieties.