Work

Managing the Self: The ‘invisible work’ of British Muslim women in maintaining safety in public spaces

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This paper explores the socio-spatial dynamics of safety for Muslim women who wear the hijab in Western urban public spaces. Integrating critical interdisciplinary studies, it extends debates on urban planning to include the ‘invisible work’ of identity management. We demonstrate how Muslim women tactically negotiate their identity and safety, adapting their appearance and behaviour in response to their environment and status, both as minorities and women. Taking East London as its case study, and drawing on interviews with twenty-two Muslim women, our findings indicate that spatial interventions like clear sight lines and community spaces intended to enhance safety and inclusivity cannot sufficiently address the ingrained political, cultural and social biases that generate insecurity. While recognizing the limits on the outcomes of planning, we build on calls for a more phenomenological approach to planning for public space. We argue that integrating cultural diversity and fostering inclusion demands a broader understanding of ‘safety’: one that recognizes the complex ways in which minority communities experience urban spaces. To achieve this, we focus on the importance of planners being more sensitive to intersectionality to engage more fully with power dynamics that inform a sense of safety in public space.

Source: Environment and Planning C Politics and Space

DOI: 10.1177/23996544261426149

Authors: Minahil Naqvi, Erica Pani, Alan Mace, Nancy Holman

Institution: London School of Economics and Political Science

Language: English

Topic: Gender Studies and Social Issues

Subfield: Gender Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Reduced inequalities, Gender equality, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,650