THE SAFETY PARADOX: AN ANALYSIS OF FEMALE STUDENTS' SAFETY PERCEPTIONS AT UNIVERSITIES IN ASTANA

Abstract

This study explores how female students at universities in Astana, Kazakhstan, perceive and experience safety within their campus environments. Despite recent initiatives by the Ministry of Education and Science to enhance campus safety through surveillance systems and advanced technologies, many female students continue to experience fear, discomfort, and uncertainty within university spaces. This paradox, where institutions appear secure on the surface, yet are perceived as unsafe by female students form the main research question of this study. Drawing on a qualitative research design, the study employs in-depth interviews with female students aged 18 to 27 from three different types of universities. public, private, and autonomous in Astana. The research reveals that students’ sense of safety is shaped not only by environmental and infrastructural factors such as lighting and visibility, but also by institutional responses to harassment, trust within the university community, and broader expectations surrounding female behavior. Findings indicate that visible but passive safety measures, such as security guards and cameras are perceived as symbolic rather than effective. Participants emphasized the absence of reliable reporting systems and accountability in handling harassment cases, leading to a general lack of trust in institutional protection. Ultimately, the study argues that safety in university settings must be understood as a flexible, lived experience, not limited to physical dimensions. Thus, effective safety measures require universities to address underlying social dynamics, institutional silence, and cultural narratives that shape female students’ sense of vulnerability. By amplifying the voices of female students, this research contributes to the broader discourse on gender, safety, and inclusion in educational environments in Kazakhstan.