Women’s sense of safety at work and beyond differs across six SEA markets

According to a new survey, Hanoi leads in reported pay discrimination at 21%, followed by Singapore (15%), Jakarta (13%), Kuala Lumpur (11%), and Manila (7%).

Women’s safety remains a key measure of how inclusive and liveable a city truly is. Perceptions of safety influence mobility, participation in the workforce, and overall wellbeing. As cities across Southeast Asia continue to develop, understanding both the realities and perceptions of women’s safety is essential to building environments where everyone can move freely and confidently.

According to a recent survey by Milieu Insight, Singapore reported the highest share of women who feel "very safe" among six Southeast Asian capital cities — including Bangkok (Thailand), Hanoi (Vietnam), Jakarta (Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), and Manila (Philippines).

The percentage of women who feel "very safe" in their daily lives are as follows:

1. Singapore — 31%
2. Hanoi — 26%
3. Jakarta — 19%
4. Bangkok — 9%
5. Kuala Lumpur — 9%
6. Manila — 7%

However, it was reported that the gap between cities where women feel most and least safe was striking — over four times larger between Singapore and Manila. Women across Southeast Asia were widely adjusting their daily routines due to safety concerns, even in cities with relatively high perceived safety.

In particular, 82% of women in Kuala Lumpur have adjusted their behaviour, followed by Manila (81%), Jakarta and Hanoi (76%), Bangkok (73%), and Singapore (40%). 

Digital harassment

The study also revealed high rates of online harassment, which have impacted women's work and public participation. In Hanoi, 61% of women report experiencing at least one form of online harassment in the past 12 months.

The most commonly reported experiences include:

• Persistent online contact or stalking (22%),
• Doxxing (22%), and
• Impersonation or fake profiles (20%).

Jakarta follows at 48%, followed by Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Bangkok, and Singapore at 47%, 44%, 43%, and 26%, respectively.

Across the six cities, digital harassment was said to carry severe career and mental health consequences: 

• Jakarta
  • 64% limit what they post online.
  • 20% have withdrawn from networking or career opportunities.
• Manila
  • 63% restrict online sharing.
  • 36% report anxiety, depression, or sleep problems.
• Hanoi
  • 62% self-censor.
  • 42% have stopped participating in public discussions entirely.
  • 24% avoided professional networking opportunities.
• Bangkok
  • 49% limit online posting.
  • 24% report mental health impacts.
• Kuala Lumpur
  • 49% restrict what they share online.
  • 15% have withdrawn from career opportunities.
• Singapore
  • 35% limit online presence.
  • 9% have withdrawn from networking.

Additionally, the report revealed that up to 31% of women across the markets considered leaving social media entirely, affecting the participation rate in entrepreneurship, thought leadership, and professional networking, with potential implications for women’s long-term economic participation.

Workplace burdens

Workplace conditions vary sharply across cities, revealing systemic barriers to career advancement.

The percentage of women reporting no workplace issues is as follows: 

• Singapore: 31%
• Kuala Lumpur: 30%
• Bangkok: 27%
• Manila: 26%
• Jakarta: 26%
• Hanoi: 18%

However, this indicated that 82% of women indeed faced workplace challenges.

In Jakarta, multiple factors combine to create challenges:

1. 52% cite lack of flexible work options,
2. 43% face family caregiving responsibilities, and
3. 43% have safety concerns around commuting or working late.

Women in Hanoi, on the other hand, face "caregiving pressures," with 56% reporting family caregiving responsibilities, 49% concerned about safety, and 43% lacking flexible work options.

The pressure to manage both work and domestic duties is also most pronounced in Hanoi (36%), followed by Bangkok (29%), Jakarta (26%), Manila (24%), Kuala Lumpur (23%), and Singapore (22%).

Another factor is pay discrimination compared to male colleagues, where the highest is in Hanoi (21%), followed by Singapore (15%), Jakarta (13%), Kuala Lumpur (11%), and Manila (7%).

Up to 52% of women also cited inflexibility as a career barrier, and up to 51% cannot work late due to safety concerns. This may affect career progression, with potential implications for the region’s future talent pipeline.

Trust in government and institutional confidence

When asked whether city infrastructure actively supports women's safety and mobility through thoughtful design, lighting, safe walkways, and ongoing programmes, those who "strongly agree" were:

• Hanoi: 23%
• Jakarta: 23%
• Bangkok: 23%
• Singapore: 18%
• Kuala Lumpur: 11%
• Manila: 9%.

Another factor is the level of trust in local or national government to make decisions that reflect women's needs, where those reporting "a great deal" of trust were:

• Hanoi: 21%,
• Singapore: 16%,
• Jakarta: 14%,
• Bangkok: 8%,
• Kuala Lumpur: 8%, and
• Manila: 6%.

On the flipside, cities that reported "not much" or "no trust at all" were:

• Manila: 23% (highest distrust)
• Bangkok: 17%
• Jakarta: 15%
• Kuala Lumpur: 13%
• Hanoi: 7%
• Singapore: 4%.

Low institutional trust is closely linked to the underreporting of harassment and violence, per the study.. In Bangkok, 52% of women surveyed believe that “nothing will be done” if they report an incident. This percentage is also the highest rate across all six SEA markets.

In Manila, 46% feel reporting would be futile, and an equal proportion fear they would not be believed.

Similarly, 46% of women in Jakarta believe reporting is ineffective, while in Singapore, 44% cite fear of retaliation as a key concern.

Other key findings in Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia can be found below: 

Thailand

Women in Thailand tend to exercise greater caution than their peers in Singapore, yet report feeling safer overall than women in Malaysia and the Philippines.

This caution appears to be shaped by skepticism toward institutions: more than half of Thai women doubt that authorities would take action if harm were reported. As a result, perceptions of safety are highly situational. While home and workplace environments are generally seen as secure, spaces beyond these — particularly at night — are more likely to trigger anxiety.

Behavioural adjustments are common, with 73% saying they have changed their routines due to safety concerns — the second-highest rate in Southeast Asia after Malaysia (82%). Overall, more than one in six Thai women report feeling unsafe in daily life, the highest proportion among the three spotlight countries.

In terms of institutional trust and reporting barriers, 32% of Thai women reported fear of retaliation as a reporting barrier. On the bright side, 34% trust that their Government will reflect women's needs, with 48% remaining neutral or unsure. 

Regarding digital safety, 43% of Thai women have experienced online harassment in the last 12 months. Top forms reported were 

• Online harassment/verbal abuse (21%),
• Cyberstalking (10%),
• Unwanted sexual messages (17%)

As a result, this has led to:

• 49% limiting what they post online, 
• 51% changing their privacy settings, and
• 24% experiencing anxiety/depression from online harm.

Singapore

Women in Singapore report the highest sense of personal safety among the six Southeast Asian markets surveyed. However, beneath this relative sense of security, concerns around cost of living, mental wellbeing and digital safety continue to shape daily life. While Singapore leads in overall safety perception, 13% of women remain in a “neutral” zone, feeling cautious depending on location or context. The clearest gap appears after dark, with confidence in walking alone at night significantly lower than during the day.

Digital risks add another layer to these experiences. Although 26% of women report experiencing online harassment in the past 12 months — the lowest rate in Southeast Asia — behavioural impact persists. Among those affected, 62% blocked the perpetrator and 40% reported the incident to the platform, both among the lowest action rates regionally. In addition, 35% say they limit what they post online due to fear of harassment.

Workplace challenges remain widespread, with 69% reporting at least one issue. Common concerns include a lack of flexible work options (25%), pressure to balance work and domestic responsibilities (22%), and pay discrimination (15%). When it comes to career progression, limited flexibility (50%), caregiving responsibilities (48%), and unequal pay (34%) are cited as key barriers.

Perceptions of gender equality are broadly positive but nuanced. While 57% rate progress in access to education, careers and leadership as “good” or “excellent,” and 54% describe community attitudes toward women as progressive, 39% say attitudes are mixed — the highest proportion across the region.

Malaysia

Women in Malaysia report the highest rate of behavioural change due to safety concerns among the six Southeast Asian markets surveyed, with 82% adjusting their routines — compared with 40% in Singapore. While half (50%) say they feel safe doing everyday activities in their city, this places Malaysia tied 4th–5th in the region and 34 points below Singapore. In addition, 13% report feeling “somewhat unsafe” or “very unsafe” in daily life.

Safety concerns also intersect with economic participation. Nearly half (49%) say issues such as commuting or working late limit their career advancement. Other commonly cited barriers include social expectations about women’s roles (41%) and a lack of flexible work options (39%).

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READ MORE: Five ways Singapore is prioritising national mental health and wellbeing

Lead image / Milieu