KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian women report the highest rate of behavioural change because of safety concerns among six South-East Asian capital cities.
Comparing data from Singapore, Bangkok, Hanoi, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Manila, Malaysian women adjust their routines, lives, travel and self-presentation as a direct response to safety concerns, according to a study by Milieu Insight.
The consumer research and data intelligence company surveyed 3,000 women (500 in each city) for the regional study.
It said over eight in 10 women in Malaysia adjust their routines to feel safer.
"Safety is deeply intertwined with career opportunities, social freedom and online life.
"While most Malaysian women generally feel safe, the scale of behavioural adaptation is striking with more than four in five women modifying how they live, where they go, when they travel and how they present themselves, as a direct response to safety concerns.
"Safety is not just a feeling, it is reshaping daily freedom," it said in a statement last week.
It said 82% of Malaysian women have changed behaviour or routines because of safety concerns, the highest in South-East Asia, compared with 40% in Singapore.
"Meanwhile, 13% feel 'somewhat unsafe' or 'very unsafe' in daily life, which is a minority living with regular fear.
"Nearly one in two Malaysian women (49%) cite safety concerns, such as commuting or working late, as one of the top three barriers to their career advancement.
"This is one of the highest rates in the region, highlighting how physical safety and economic opportunity are directly linked for Malaysian women.
"From our study, 49% say safety concerns limit career advancement, 41% cite social expectations about women’s roles as a barrier and 39% say lack of flexible work options holds them back," it read.
It said other issues include online harassment, with 47% citing having experienced it in the past 12 months.
"If they experienced harassment or violence, what stops them from reporting it is their belief that nothing would be done (37%), lack of knowledge on how to report (36%), fear of retaliation (35%), the fear of not being believed (33%), and financial barriers (29%)," it said.
Milieu Insight said its research findings show that women’s perceptions of safety vary widely across the region, with Singapore reporting the highest share of women who feel "very safe", followed by Hanoi and Jakarta.
"When measuring the percentage of women who feel 'very safe' in their daily lives, Singapore came in first with 31%.
"The others are Hanoi (26%), Jakarta (19%), Bangkok (9%), Kuala Lumpur (9%) and Manila (7%).
"Women across South-East Asia are widely adjusting their daily routines due to safety concerns, even in cities with relatively high perceived safety.
"In Manila, 81% report altering their routines, with 24% making significant changes, 69% avoid going out after certain hours, and 65% avoid specific locations, making it the most restricted city in the study," it said.
It said in Jakarta and Hanoi, 76% of women have adjusted their behaviour, with 66% of women in Jakarta avoiding going out after certain hours.
"Bangkok follows closely, with 73% changing their routines and 72% avoiding certain locations, the highest recorded rate of location avoidance.
"Even in Singapore, where 40% of women report changing their behaviour (the lowest in the region), the paradox is clear: perceived safety frequently coexists with self-imposed restrictions," it said.
It said the study also reveals alarmingly high rates of online harassment, impacting women's work and public participation.
"In Hanoi, 61% of women report experiencing at least one form of online harassment in the past 12 months.
"The most commonly reported experiences include persistent online contact or stalking (22%), doxxing (22%) and impersonation or fake profiles (20%).
"Jakarta follows at 48%, including 11% affected by deepfakes, double Singapore's rate.
"The others are Kuala Lumpur (47%), Manila (44%), Bangkok (43%) and Singapore (26%)," it said.
It said up to 31% of women across cities report considering leaving social media entirely.
"This may limit participation in entrepreneurship, thought leadership and professional networking, with potential implications for women’s long-term economic participation," it said.
Milieu Insight SEA chief executive officer Cindy Pang said that across South-East Asia’s capitals, many women feel safe because they have learned to avoid risk, but that is not freedom.
"Cities, employers and platforms can do more to create a conducive ecosystem where women can participate safely in everyday life while building their careers and raising their families with confidence," she said.
