Gender Differences in Risk Perception and Precautionary Behaviour among Residents of Nigerian Yoruba Traditional City

The study examined gender differences in crime perception, feeling of safety and the use of precaution measures among the residents of Nigerian Traditional Yoruba City. Systematic sampling method was used to obtain data for this study. It was revealed that women were more fearful than men walking alone in the dark as the odds of a woman feeling unsafe walking alone after dark were approximately 4(3.61) times higher than that of a man. Findings further showed that 23% of women and 17% of men reported that they routinely carry something for self defence. While other socio-economic and demographic characteristics were significant explanatory variables in crime perception, feeling of safety and the use of precaution measures, they did not significantly reduce the influence of gender. Fear of perceived crime, avoidance behaviour and routine precaution by controlling for gender alone showed that the odds of a woman in Yoruba traditional town were respectively 3.01,6.32,7.16 times that of a man. The study therefore concluded that gender remains an important variable in explaining the differences in crime perception, feeling of safety and the use of precaution measures that limit daily activities in traditional Yoruba cities in Nigeria.