Gender Mainstreaming in Urban Planning: A Path to Inclusive Cities
Historically, urban planning has been dominated by a male perspective, often resulting in the inadvertent exclusion of various societal groups such as women, ethnic and religious minorities, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups. The impact of this exclusion is multifaceted and varies among different groups.
The Impact of Exclusion
One of the most frequently discussed issues is women’s safety in public spaces. The harrowing stories of sexual harassment and assault against women in public areas are far too common, with statistics revealing that 80% of women in the UK have experienced sexual harassment in public spaces. Furthermore, 81% of women feel unsafe in open spaces or parks after dark, and 55% would not use public transport after dark.
However, the needs of women and girls extend beyond just avoiding violent assault. For them to reach their full potential, they must be able to fully participate in public spaces in their daily lives. Research from Make Space for Girls reveals that “girls are designed out of public spaces when they should be increasing their autonomy and developing an independent life”. Moreover, public spaces often feature narrow pavements, blind corners, alleyways, and few ramps, making it difficult for women to navigate these environments.
Gender Mainstreaming: A Solution
To address these issues, it’s crucial to consider women’s lived experiences in the public realm at every stage of the planning and development process. This is where the concept of Gender Mainstreaming comes into play. Gender Mainstreaming is defined as “the integration of the gender perspective into every stage of policy process with a view to promoting equality between women and men”.
The key principles of Gender Mainstreaming include:
- Recognising that ‘business as usual’ centres the ‘default male’;
- Emphasising the importance of sex-disaggregated data collection and analysis;
- Ensuring equal access to and utilisation of services;
- Ensuring women and men are equally involved in decision making; and,
- Integrating equity into steering processes.
A promising example of Gender Mainstreaming in action can be seen in Glasgow. In October 2022, Glasgow City Council passed a motion that places women at the heart of urban planning. Following the example set by Vienna, the motion officially integrates a feminist approach into the City Development Plan. Glasgow will use a gendered lens for all aspects of planning, public realm design, policy development, and budgeting. The ultimate goal is to create public spaces that are safe, inclusive for women, and accessible to all community members.
Shifting Attitudes in the Industry
However, policy changes need to be accompanied by a shift in attitudes within the planning and development profession. For gender mainstreaming to be truly embedded in the industry, professionals need to adapt their working methods, champion access for all, safety, equality, and equity, and seek ways to achieve this through exemplary planning.
It’s important to note that the issues discussed here are not exclusive to women. Ethnic and religious minorities, people with different gender identities, sexualities, and those with disabilities may also experience vulnerabilities in public spaces. Small but meaningful changes in how we plan, design, and construct the built environment can improve not only women’s safety and participation but also enhance safety, liveability, and accessibility for everyone.
