ABSTRACT
The obsession with security has been claimed to be the master narrative of contemporary urban design. This paper explores some of the complex relationships between security, space and gender. The paper shows how gender is linked in various ways to the practices of video surveillance and to how it is executed and experienced. First, links to sexual harassment are examined. Technical surveillance is not only insensitive to possible cases of harassment but also opens up new opportunities for the offenders. There clearly is a temptation to abuse the equipment for voyeuristic purposes. Second, some empirical interview material is used to discuss how women perceive surveillance. The accountability of the operators is of great importance. Concealed surveillance, either the cameras or the control rooms, erodes confidence. What is of concern to women is not just whether a particular space is monitored or not but rather the more widespread politics of surveillance. [Key words: video surveillance, gender, fear of crime, urban planning, public space.]
