Precedents and Case Studies
The [Female] Planning Perspective | Cato Manor and Via Julia | UN Women: Case Studies
Zooming Way Out: The [Female] Planning Perspective
"A rather stereotyped and essentialist understanding of gender responsibilities and relationships was in operation and so traditional gender divides were reinforced and perpetuated in various ways."
--Jo Beall and Allison Todes, "Gender and integrated area development projects: lessons from Cato Manor, Durban"
Much like the medical profession, or any profession really, the planning realm has long been male-dominated, reinforcing our patriarchal society. This purely androcentric tendency is detrimental [1], especially when it comes to planning urban cities. Safety, from a female perspective, is neglected in street layouts, circulation paths, and community design. This becomes a problem especially at night, when women are more likely to be assaulted in poorly lit and monitored areas.
The danger that women feel walking alone at night is felt all across the globe, and not just in under-developed countries [2]. According to a study of the safety of women at night from Gallup, in the United States alone, women are 27% less likely to feel safe walking alone at night, which is almost three times the global average gap of 10%. A more drastic example of this safety gap can be seen in data from Algeria below:
Historically, the Feminist Movement made strides in the construct of the community by forming organizations like the Young Women's Christian Association and the Salvation Army [3] which promoted interaction within neighborhoods and began breaking down barriers of social exclusion . Women in the U.S. began having a larger role in the large-scale urban planning process in the late 1990s, and the implications and lasting effects have been monumental. Their inherent ties with the urban fabric and community stems from typical gender roles within the family. For many years, women, as mothers, are more likely to be outside running errands as part of the "domestic work", which include shuffling children from school to various appointments and practices [4]. This female perspective directly translates to their priorities in planning.
"This strong and decisive participation by women in urban grass-roots movements has already been recorded in the feminist literature (Bru, 1996). It appears that the female pattern of time organisation, characterised by versatility and simultaneity of tasks, contrasts with a male pattern of task specialisation, less flexible and adaptable to this kind of participation in neighborhood movements."
--Maria Dolors Garcia-Ramon, Anna Ortiz, Maria Prats, "Urban planning, gender and the use of public space in a peripheral neighborhood of Barcelona"
Simply having this organization and inclusive perspective at the table during the initial planning stages, in addition to attention to details like lighting, high-traffic/monitored main streets, and community involvement to fit their needs are just a few ways that women have helped to shape the planning world. The feminist capacity to look at public spaces through a variety of perspectives, in addition to the examined disciplines (anthropology, sociology, geography, architecture, etc.), is a strength and a trend that needs to be continued as we move forward. As a woman who is pursuing an interdisciplinary minor that incorporates urban design, I hope to keep this alive.
[1] Seidman, S. (2011). Barber, K. Sex and Power. In Introducing the new sexuality studies (2nd ed.). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
[2] Crabtree, S., & Nsubuga, F. (2012, July 6). Women Feel Less Safe Than Men in Many Developed Countries. Retrieved February 26, 2015
[3] Spain, D. (2001). How women saved the city. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
[4] Maria Dolors Garcia-Ramon, Anna Ortiz, Maria Prats, Urban planning, gender and the use of public space in a peripherial neighbourhood of Barcelona, Cities, Volume 21, Issue 3, June 2004, Pages 215-223
[2] Crabtree, S., & Nsubuga, F. (2012, July 6). Women Feel Less Safe Than Men in Many Developed Countries. Retrieved February 26, 2015
[3] Spain, D. (2001). How women saved the city. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
[4] Maria Dolors Garcia-Ramon, Anna Ortiz, Maria Prats, Urban planning, gender and the use of public space in a peripherial neighbourhood of Barcelona, Cities, Volume 21, Issue 3, June 2004, Pages 215-223
Cato Manor (Durban, South Africa) and Via Julia (Barcelona, Spain)
Cato Manor
"While women have clearly benefited from the physical development aspects of the project, the shift towards a more integrated, multi-sectoral approach that includes social and economic projects has been critical in extending these benefits. This shift also drew the organisation towards awareness of the need to deepen understandings of social and gender dynamics and to focus to a greater extent on community development."
--Jo Beall and Allison Todes, "Gender and integrated area development projects: lessons from Cato Manor, Durban"
The Cato Manor Development Project (CMDP) began in 1993 to provide low-income housing in South Africa, re-establishing it for the black community, after it was rezoned as "white" in 1945, causing community turmoil, and therefore was deserted shortly after. Some of the social challenges that the project faced included: threats of desegregation from neighboring middle-class communities, threats of land invasions to reclaim this land, and local government concern that the project would be too costly and force them to use money from their metropolitan level investment and redistribution [1]. Aside from the historical problems, this area is notorious for violent crimes such as youth gang-violence as well as the rape and assault of women and men. As a result, politically powerful women took active, key roles on the planning committee and actually turned out to be more aggressive in enacting change than the men, even though men were still put forward as the official subcommittee heads. Practices within the CMDP also attempted at being gender sensitive by providing transportation home for women after meetings.
Although the Cato Manor Development Association took the right steps to a more inclusive planning process and design, the focus reverted back to the development, as opposed to exploring further those gender issues. However, that is not to say that the efforts that these women put in, not only rivaled those of men, but also offered that strong community perspective. The final design included full service amenities as well as social facilities (schools, libraries, community centers, clinics), as well as careful planning for public safety through the placement of public parks and lighting.
[1]
Beall, J., & Todes, A. (2004). Gender and integrated
area development projects: lessons from Cato Manor, Durban, Cities. 21(4). 301-310.
Via Julia
"Nou Barris was in the 1960s comparable to the marginal areas of any Third World country, where there was a mix of self-built constructions, poor quality social housing, a complete lack of public space and facilities together with high levels of unemployment, social marginalisation, dangerous groups of youths… It was a tough marginal area (Borja, 2001)."
--Borja from Maria Dolors Garcia-Ramon, Anna Ortiz, Maria Prats, Urban planning, gender and the use of public space in a peripherial neighbourhood of Barcelona, Cities
The re-design of Via Julia, a high-traffic, high-use promenade in the Nous Barris district of Barcelona, was much needed after the population boom between the 1950s and 1970s. Though this promenade was very active, it was in a bad part of the city that also lacked elements of a good urban design like green spaces, connections to public transportation, social and cultural facilities. Social movement protestors demanded that they seize this "opportunity for urban justice". What catalyzed this successful re-design was the strong and united community involvement throughout the process. Members of this community were all of the same socio-political status: industrial-working class. This social homogeneity made it easier to agree and cohesively demand for changes. Safety was a huge concern in what was defined as "transverse permeability" [1], which meant greater visibility to the other side of the road. Placing importance on pedestrian circulation lead to more restricted vehicular circulation and in turn strengthened interaction within the community.
This redesign was so successful that activity increased significantly on Via Julia so much that it rivaled Las Ramblas, the famous promenade at the heart of Barcelona. Community members much preferred Via Julia, not only for convenience, but also because it was less populated and accommodated passive activities for all ages and genders: accessibility. Today, this space is used for festivities including Saint George's Day and "sardana" performances every week. What started as a re-design of a promenade, has evolved into a major urban park with effects comparable to The Highline in New York City, a contemporary converted, elevated rail line to a public park. The flexibility in use is generally a modern goal in design to keep public spaces relevant.
[1] Maria Dolors
Garcia-Ramon, Anna Ortiz, Maria Prats, Urban planning,
gender and the use of public space in a peripherial neighbourhood of Barcelona,
Cities, Volume 21, Issue 3, June 2004, Pages 215-223
United Nations Women: Case Studies
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women published an article on Planning Spaces to Encourage Interaction Between Men and Women. It was very nicely and succinctly done to really demonstrate the potential planning has for creating sensitive spaces. Below I will outline the points from the three case studies [1]:
Gender-sensitive Park Design
St. Johann Park, Vienna, Austria Gender Sensitive Design Elements:
Source: City of Vienna and UN-HABITAT. 2002. “Gender sensitive park design Einsiedlerplatz & St.-Johann-Park, City of Vienna” in Platform for the Best Practices and Local Leadership Programme of the UN-HABITAT and the City of Vienna. |
How can spatial planning be linked to gender equality?
Royal Town Planning Institute, United Kingdom Impacts of a Gendered Understanding… ...of how people use space and places improves our ability to achieve economic, social and environmental goals. ..of design ensures that places and spaces work well for everyone. ...of what local facilities people need ensures that we create places that are useable by everyone. ...of how people want to live their lives ensures that places and spaces incorporate the facilities everyone needs. Source: From page 4 of Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). (2007). Gender and Spatial Planning: RTPI Good Practice Note 7. London: RTPI. |
Using Spatial Planning for Gender Equality
Royal Town Planning Institute, United Kingdom Fostering a Good Relationship Between Gender Equality and Spatial Planning: Find out how women and girls in the area want to be involved. Ask women directly what the environment is like for disabled women, women of different ages, minority ethnic women, lesbians and transgender people. Ensure that a statement of community involvement that addresses the needs of women and men, and ensure gender balance and diversity on youth liaison groups, including gays and lesbians. Ensure that all public materials are positive and gender-proofed. Use gender-neutral or inclusive language to communicate and avoid the risk of excluding and therefore offending people. Hold meetings with men and women separately as part of community consultation, acting on the differences in need that emerge. Source: From page 5 of Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). (2007). Gender and Spatial Planning: RTPI Good Practice Note 7. London: RTPI. |
Concluding Remarks and The Future
Whenever designs are done for the public realm community input is imperative, as highlighted by these precedents and case studies. And as we begin to actively incorporate gender sensitivity, gathering perspective from these groups that are less represented (LGBTQAI communities, racial minorities, low-income neighborhoods) become even more important. A big critique I have of "high" design in general, though I fall victim to it too, is that it generally for decadence. Not that it isn't functional, purposeful, and needed, but the designer, if given the opportunity to disregard budget, will design more for the designer than the user. Any perspective is lost. We all have the potential to catalyze the push towards social justice if we broaden our scope and extend sympathy and compassion for all situations, lives, and individuals.