Most of the time, urban planning tends to exclude the specific needs and perceptions of women, resulting in spaces that fail to meet their safety needs. This study explores the impact of physical environment factors on women’s safety perceptions in neighborhood parks in Jordan. While a few studies on this topic have been conducted in Jordan, this research makes a unique contribution by focusing on the interaction between physical design factors and demographic characteristics, examining how these factors influence women’s safety perceptions. Focusing on women’s safety in neighborhood parks, a survey was conducted and involved a sample of 380 women, using a random sampling method. confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed to identify underlying relationships between safety-related factors, while cluster analysis was used to group women based on their shared safety perceptions. The results revealed statistically significant differences and identified five distinct clusters, demonstrating varied perceptions of safety among women. This study emphasizes the importance of tailoring park designs to meet women’s specific safety needs, recognizing the diversity of priorities across demographic groups. The findings offer actionable insights for urban planners and policymakers, guiding the development of safer public spaces that respond to the varied needs of women.

Mothers in Amman Downtown frequently report feeling unsafe and excluded from public spaces. This study explores the impact of multiple layers of oppression, coupled with inadequate public spaces, on mothers’ perceptions. Using an intersectional lens, we examine how various identities intersect to shape the experiences and perspectives of motherhood in urban environments, helping us better understand the challenges faced by marginalized groups in public spaces. Ethnographic methods, including semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and field observations, were employed. The research highlights how the absence of care-supportive environments forces mothers to develop spatial tactics, such as cutting their trips short and returning home, seeking permission from shop owners to use private restrooms, or using their cars as temporary caregiving spaces, as a response to their exclusion. The findings offer deeper insights into the experiences of mothers, highlighting the need to address their specific needs and preferences in the design and management of public spaces. This study emphasizes the importance of fostering social and gender equity through interventions tailored to the diverse needs of mothers, with a particular focus on creating sustainable, care-supportive environments in public spaces.