Cities are failing women; here’s how the property industry can help
A new report by Arup, the United Nations Development Programme, and the University of Liverpool has highlighted ways we can craft our urban spaces to be more inclusive.
Women make up nearly half of the 4.5 billion people who live in cities around the world. And yet, the report “Cities Alive: Designing cities that work for women” states that female needs are not always addressed.
The report states: “Whether intentionally or not, a historic and contemporary cohort of mostly male planners, designers and city leaders have created urban spaces which perpetuate outdated gender norms and inequities.
“As they are, cities prioritise men’s mobility, health, safety, leisure and economic wellbeing over women’s.”
Arup, UNDP, and the University of Liverpool interviewed 770 women from 20 different countries about their experiences within the built environment and found four key areas that urban design can focus on to improve cities.
These themes are safety and security, justice and equity, health and wellbeing, and enrichment and fulfilment. Throughout the report, these themes are used to highlight issues women face, possible solutions, and real-world examples of how these problems are being tackled.
While the report’s focus is centred on the concerns of women, Cities Alive argues that improvements in these areas can lead to a better urban experience for everyone.
UNDP administrator Achim Steiner explained: “When cities are largely designed without considering the diverse needs and insights of women of all ages and identities– this has an extreme impact not only on their lives, but on their families. It restricts their opportunities and negatively impacts the overall sustainable development of societies. Gender-equal cities can generate enormous economic, environmental, political, and social benefits.”
Some of the fixes mentioned in the report are practical – things like improving lighting in public areas, providing public toilets and areas for breastfeeding, and ensuring public spaces are accessible for the elderly and those with physical mobility struggles.
Other solutions tackle more systemic issues, such as protecting women’s right to land and property, increasing the number of women in decision-making positions, and acquiring gender-disaggregated data rather than gender-blind information. Gender-disaggregated data shows how different groups are impacted by decisions.
Kim Power is the research manager for the Cities Alive report. Credit: via Arup
For Kim Power, research manager for Cities Alive and a Liverpool-based urban planner at Arup, one of the most significant aspects of the report is the gender-responsive project roadmap, which can be found on page 114 of the report (page 58 if you’re viewing it as a pdf).
The roadmap shows how companies can make sure projects are inclusive beginning at inception and all the way to post-delivery analysis. Power hopes this roadmap will be used by many in the built environment.
“We deliberately have done it as a free and open-source report,” she said. “We really want people to implement those actions.”
The report also emphasises that no two women are the same, with its findings factoring in women from different backgrounds, races, abilities, and ages.
Because women statistically live longer than men, the concerns of the elderly are especially important.
“Older women have their own unique challenges, issues, and needs in the built environment and it’s not catered for,” Power said.
For example, she mentioned that older women used public transport more, so having a well-connected network is key. Otherwise, where they choose to go will be limited unless they have the ability to pay for a taxi or are able to drive.
“If the public transport network doesn’t get them from where they want to go, then they won’t have that fulfilling, active life,” she said.
Power noted that while the report has a global outlook by design, much of what it contains could be applicable to the North West.
She also pointed out that progress on making the urban environment more female-friendly is also being made, with conversations about female safety in public spaces becoming more prevalent thanks to campaigns like Greater Manchester’s Safer Streets initiative.
But that does not mean more work does not need to be done – especially when it comes to the built environment community becoming more aware of unconscious bias. That means changing the rules themselves to force people into considering groups they may have overlooked before.
“In the built environment, we love regulations and practices,” Power said. “If we unwittingly embed gender bias, then nothing will change until the practices, laws, and regulations also change.”
Once again having efficient and accessible public transport networks is highlighted, this time in order to encourage women to travel, as well as feeling safer while doing it, however our governments never prioritise this service.
Another worry during the current financial crisis is that some local authorities are considering turning off street lights to save costs, but putting women , and the elderlry, at risk
By Anonymous
Oh dear, identity politics once again . Pick any cohort, identify with them and let them come up with reasons why whatever it is is failing them.Then explain the reasons and your solution with no hint of confirmation bias and not a hint of irony. Very scientific.
By Anonymous
I have never felt unsafe in Manchester, why would it be any different for a woman?
By Cal
Cal – because your male privilege means you are able to feel safe anywhere. Have some empathy and think about people who aren’t yourself for one second.
By A Male
Males are just generally more violent than females, it’s just human nature which can’t be changed.
But, I think better designed and safer places are beneficial for everyone – good sight lines, natural surveillance (eyes on the street). Police patrols on foot would be a progressive idea too. When women feel safer, everyone does.
By SW (A Male)
Sorry A male, but what you’ve actually done is to prove the point already made. That report could’ve been written about everyone. Older people and younger males too, that is rather the point. Safety in cities affects everyone so making a point that ‘males are more violent’ is really nonsensical.
By Anonymous
Anonymous (1:00pm). Please read carefully my points. My second paragraph is clearly stating that well designed places benefit everyone.
I get suspicious when companies virtue signal about specific groups of users. However, in my first paragraph, I stated a fact about general human nature, however much one would like to change that.
By SW
In what world is a UNDP-backed report that offers tangible improvements to people’s lives ‘virtue signalling’ or identity politics. There’s a vast amount of research and lived experiences that you’re choosing to ignore.
Also you’re tapped if you think men can’t change their violent behaviour. We need to actually be accountable to our own actions.
By Anonymous
SW , point made and fair enough.
By Anonymous 1.00pm
I’m not choosing to ignore anything. That’s a strong accusation. I think male violence is a real problem – and men are pathetic and small for resorting to this.
Virtual signalling is when people say things but don’t do anything meaningful to change the situation. I judge people by actions, not words. Males need to change their behaviour – it’s men that cause most crime. That’s shocking.
By SW
No problem Anonymous 1:00pm
By SW
Anonymous 4.45 we’ll just leave you to shout into your echo chamber and ignore any valid points made.The whole ‘men bad’ thing was not the point of this report or even of the comments above at all. Interesting that that’s what you took from it though.
By Anonymous
So many words yet such little said. A load of utter claptrap to be honest, just using identity politics to justify the job role.
You know what would help women? Addressing an evermore throw-away culture that’s sees people and women especially, as commodities. Glorified in US rap music and generally shipped across from the States, this culture teaches young men that they can have whatever they want whenever they want, and that an athletic body and enhanced assets is all that matters. It’s nothing to do with the layout of the cities or whatever other justification is not actually referenced in the above article.
By The Squirrel's Nuts