Living in fear: perceptions and responses of Tijuana women to violence

The aim of this study is to examine the pervasive sense of fear experienced by women aged 18 to 55 in Tijuana, focusing on their responses to violence and criminality. Drawing on 196 in-depth interviews, the research documents women’s fears, experiences, and coping strategies in relation to urban insecurity. Findings reveal that violence in Tijuana manifests through structural, symbolic, and cultural forms that perpetuate patriarchal behaviors and shape public spaces with distinctly masculinized characteristics. The results also show that younger women (18–25 years) express heightened fears of physical and sexual aggression, whereas older women (46–65 years) are more concerned about their children’s safety and tend to restrict their mobility, adopting more secluded lifestyles. The participants’ narratives offer not only a rich anthropological account but also highlight women’s resilience, adaptability, and resistance in the face of adversity, providing a compelling call to address the entrenched problem of gender-based violence in Tijuana.