Safety stands as the fundamental and paramount prerequisite for urban livability. The perception of safety significantly influences individuals' quality of life and mental well-being. Elevating personal safety levels, particularly for women who continue to experience safety concerns in modern cities, is imperative. This research delves into the influence of diverse urban facility designs on people's sense of security. Participants were exposed to images portraying distinct street views: one illuminated with ample nighttime lighting, and the other shrouded in darkness with a distant light source. Each image featured indistinct human figures nearby, symbolizing potential safety risks. Participants' gaze patterns, indicative of their visual attention, were recorded using an eye tracker. The eye-tracking data facilitated the acquisition of quantitative results. Data analyses revealed heightened sensitivity to figures in dark scenarios compared to well-lit environments. Females had more need of lighting in both scenarios. Additionally, in darker settings, compared to males, females exhibited more fixation behaviors towards distant light sources, signifying increased anxiety and a proactive effort to seek safety elements to mitigate risks. The underlying reasons for this gender-based difference are discussed. This study underscores the critical need to enhance females' feelings of safety and address the actual safety conditions they encounter. The findings offer insights and guidance for human-centered transformations in urban design, contributing to the creation of a more gender-inclusive society and fostering the well-being of residents, especially women.

Xinqiao Su. Gender-Inclusive Urban Design: Insights from Eye-Tracking Research. Academic Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences (2023) Vol. 6, Issue 24: 113-118. https://doi.org/10.25236/AJHSS.2023.062419.

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