Women, social housing and urban spaces: Places to dwell and places where women are being attacked on their way home

Urbanization and population increase in the cities have led to crime and violence; specifically, high levels of physical, sexual and non-physical violence are committed against women, children and older people which are the vulnerable groups of society. Hence, the issue of violence against vulnerable people became an inseparable part of studies concerning women and urban space. In this study our subject is examined by first providing a brief literature review on gender issues and women in urban space, urban violance, defensible space and crime prevention by design. A case study is presented together with observations and determinations regarding Bezirganbahçe - a TOKİ (Bureau for Social Housing Administration) Social Housing Development in Istanbul,Turkey- and the case has been analyzed in terms of security and safety measures within the context of urban violence and women. A questionnaire has been conducted with 100 people and 68 of them were included in the statistical evaluation of samples. It is found out that while the settlement is considered secure with reference to natural disasters and accidents, it was considered insecure in terms of crime. The main objective of this study is that most social housing settlements of TOKİ that have been rapidly constructed in cities in Turkey has received criticism must be scientifically evaluated.