Since we still live in a man’s world with ongoing sexual harassment, more businesses must create safe spaces.
According to U.N. Women, women and girls face daily sexual violence worldwide, from unwanted gestures and remarks to femicide. This growing problem has led many global organizations to adopt initiatives addressing women’s safety in public spaces. Although women’s organizations and governments are responding, the movement would benefit from greater support from local businesses.
Sexual harassment occurs daily in public spaces, especially retail, as women simply try to go about their day. Unfortunately, many people overlook or fail to report these incidents because dealing with them has become so common for women.
However, just because it’s commonplace doesn’t mean women and businesses should overlook these incidents. The only way forward is for more organizations to take a stand and work to prevent these incidents from happening.
Business Solutions to Enhance Safety for Female Customers
People often assume it’s women’s responsibility to protect themselves by “dressing appropriately,” staying alert, and avoiding nighttime outings. Unfortunately, this response unethically places the burden solely on women, similar to putting a bandaid over a gaping wound.
To solve the problem, organizations must address the root cause and create safer spaces that support and protect everyone. We shouldn’t ask women to constantly look over their shoulders. We should create spaces where they feel as safe as any male customer shopping in the same environment.
1. Improve Visibility
Create more visibility in public retail spaces to make it harder for sexual violence to occur unnoticed. Companies should design stores and parking lots with clear sight lines, avoiding structures or layouts that obscure shoppers from view. Brighter lighting, especially in parking lots, can also help prevent incidents from occurring.
2. Increase Surveillance and Security
Good security plays an important role in mitigating sexual harassment issues. It can also improve customer experience by making them feel safe and secure. Hire more security guards or have employees available on the floor to assist customers and enhance safety and security. Surveillance cameras and employee training on spotting and responding to sexual violence can also help improve safety.
Increasing digital security for online shopping environments is also important. Sexual harassment and unfair treatment of women are not things that only happen in physical environments. They can happen online as well.
It’s important to use digital security to improve customer experience no matter the user’s gender. Implementing strong digital security measures helps female customers feel safe and ensures their online activity remains secure.
3. Engender Inclusion
If women see more people like themselves when engaging with a business, they are more likely to feel safe and supported in that environment. In other words, ensuring female employees are equally represented and available to assist female customers, can help create a greater sense of safety. Fostering an environment that openly supports and empowers women may also mitigate sexual violence from occurring in those spaces.
4. Prioritize Amazing Customer Service
An excellent way to foster safe, happy, and supportive environments for women is to create your own team of happiness heroes — an amazing customer service team. When businesses prioritize customer service, it builds better trust with customers while also allowing your team to make a positive difference in your customers’ lives. This is especially helpful when seeking to create safer spaces for women.
Great customer service isn’t just about making a sale, it’s about creating an incredible customer experience that leaves customers feeling satisfied. This, of course, means the customer is more likely to return and continue making purchases, but in terms of female customers, it can also help them feel safer shopping with a brand when they know that their needs are being met.
5. Build and Ethical Business From the Ground Up
There are a number of traditional business lessons that business owners often forget which can play an important role in creating safer spaces for women. Being more mindful of these lessons when building a business can not only lead to a more successful business, but one that is more ethical, inclusive, and supportive for all customers.
Lesson #1 – Conduct ethical operations by prioritizing honest and transparent practices;
Lesson #2 – Create personal connections with customers;
Lesson #3 – Find and retain quality employees who will help you cultivate more positive environments;
Lesson #4 – Make sure managers and executives lead by example to help foster a positive and supportive work ethic.
There are numerous other lessons that any business owner should consider, but these are some of the most important when trying to foster an environment where female customers feel safe and supported.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, the work businesses put into creating safer spaces will improve what they get out of it. Building safer, more ethical, and inclusive environments for women increases the value perception that customers have of the business. If female customers have better experiences, they are more likely to show their loyal support to a brand, which improves retention and helps businesses attract new customers while also helping to build a safer and more supportive world for women.
About The Author

Sam Bowman is a writer from the pacific northwest, who enjoys getting to utilize the internet for community connections across the country. His writing reflects the many passions he has for the world around him. In his spare time, he likes running, reading, and frequenting the local bookstore.
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