A To-do List to help plan and design cities that empower women

In essence, women friendly cities are those cities where all the residents of that particular city can equally benefit from the financial, social and political opportunities presented before them."
- Women-Friendly Cities Initiative

Cities should always be planned and designed based on the needs of their users. On International Women's Day, let's think for a moment about the movement towards designing cities that empower women as much as they do men. With women comprising at least half of urban populations, many have pointed out that the disciplines of urban planning and design have historically been dominated by men and consequently, by the male perspective. This is a big topic. This is just a brief overview.

Thinking about designing cities 'for' women runs the risk of reinforcing all sorts of unhelpful gender stereotypes. But this isn't about superficial, potentially patronising projects. Effective city design needs to take into account the different patterns that emerge about what different people do in the city, and what they need. In  many cases, women and men have similar needs. But research also tells us that males and females do use cities differently, all over the world, and that certain factors associated with being female tend to restrict freedom of movement within the city. Many of these needs gaps, such as caring responsibilities and work patterns, will likely narrow as society moves towards gender equality. But right now around the world, certain urban design and planning factors can create challenges to women's self-esteem and belongingness, and can restrict their likelihood of accessing healthy opportunities in the urban environment, such as access to nature, exercise, or positive social interactions.

As such, this is  a matter of social justice that affects women's ability to engage in public life. It is fundamental that cities integrate the female perspective in design and planning process, and ensure that genders can benefit equally from services such as transportation, exercise venues, parks, health and social care facilities, and all other aspects of the city. So what's currently stopping them?

According to the research, factors associated with gender in urban design and planning seem to be largely divided into two main challenges: accessibility (psychological and physical); and safety. Some examples include:

Psychological and physical accessibility

• Negotiating use of space: Women are less likely than men to negotiate and assert their legitimate use of spaces. For example, girls have been found to be  less likely to use parks when they feel they have been 'taken over' by boys.
• Caring: Women are still statistically more likely than men to be carers, particularly for children and older relatives, and often more likely to run household errands. This brings about specific needs around maneuvering prams and wheelchairs around the city, and needs for public transport to efficiently cover times and places outside the city's standard 'rush hour' plan.
  
• Toilets: Women tend to need to use toilets more frequently than men, for a range of reasons, including: menstruation, menopause, more susceptibility to urine infections due to anatomical differences, more susceptibility to urinary incontinence associated with the complications of previous childbirth, and increased risk of disorders like irritable bowel syndrome. In addition women are more likely than men to be caring for children or older people who have increased toilet needs. And transgender women may, depending on their location, may feel like they have no access to public toilets.

Safety

• All genders fear crime, but studies show that women are more likely to fear crime. Women who are caregivers may also be particularly afraid of other threats to their charges, such as traffic danger. Such safety fears limit women's psychological freedom of movement, which may affect places they feel able to use in the city.

How this all affects mental health

Exclusion, anxiety, fear and marginalisation are detrimental to our mental health. Good design helps people feel included and valued, prevents isolation, and empowers us to access places that can have a protective effect on mental health, such as health facilities, natural parks, places to exercise, or settings to socialise. Feeling able to use the city also helps create feelings of community belongingness and social cohesion.

A To-do List starter for cities to deliver urban design that empowers females as it does males

1. Women should be involved at all stages of urban design and planning processes.
2. The female perspective should be an integral part of urban design and planning decisions.
   
3. Sidewalks, public transport and access points should be designed to welcome prams and wheelchairs.
4. Public transit should be safe and invest in diverse schedules beyond the standard office rush hour.
5. Pedestrian, cycle and public transit routes should incorporate natural surveillance, good lighting, and good stewardship and maintenance, and reduce the risk of unwanted interactions.
6. Consideration could be given to subdividing some public places like parks so that one group is less likely to take over the whole space, and sections feel hospitable for different people's needs.
7. Public toilets, and places welcoming for baby changing and feeding, should be plentiful, accessible and safe.

WOMEN-FRIENDLY CITIES

ARE CITIES WHERE WOMEN

• Can access health, education and social services.
• Can access employment opportunities.
• Can access high quality and comprehensive urban services (such as transportation, accommodation and security).
• Can access mechanisms that will guarantee their rights in the event they are subjected to violence.

ARE CITIES WHERE

• Local governments take into account women’s issues and perspectives in their planning and decision-making processes.
• Women are supported and encouraged to participate in all areas of urban life on an equal basis with men.
  

- Women-Friendly Cities Initiative

Note: gender, urban design and mental health is a challenging intersection. This op-ed cannot hope to fully cover its many facets but is intended to inspire thought about the opportunities to design more inclusive and empowering cities. If you want to examine a different angle, please submit to this blog.

Read about how urban design can promote good mental health for everyone here

About the Author

Layla McCay is Director of the Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health. A psychiatrist, international public health and health systems specialist, and adjunct professor of international health at Georgetown University, she set up UD/MH in 2015 to help increase interest, knowledge sharing and translational research to improve population mental health through smart urban design. Trained at the Maudsley Hospital and Institute of Psychiatry in London, Layla has a keen interest in the determinants of mental health, and a passion for the built environment and helping people love the places they live. 

@LaylaMcCay and @urbandesignmh