Symbolic order (cross-cutting dimension)

There is hardly any other area in which patriarchal structures are reflected as massively as in planning and building. Traditional understandings of gender roles are fixed here for decades and literally cemented. This can be seen most clearly in the Athens Charter developed in the 1930s, which propagated a city separated according to function (living, working, leisure) and laid the foundation for the paradigm of a car-oriented city that is still valid today. The charter was implemented especially in the reconstruction after World War II. So-called “dormitory cities” were created (the very term shows the ignorance of unpaid domestic work: for women, the home has always been a workplace), and the desolation of inner cities into purely consumer areas is also a consequence. Even if today's planning no longer follows the Athens Charter, but at least addresses sustainability and equity, these plans continue to complicate life arrangements today, especially for those who combine work and care work.

Care economy/care work

Both urban planning and housing planning can positively and negatively influence the performance of care work. For urban and regional planning, it is the distances to be covered for everyday organization or even the availability of open and green spaces close to housing that influence this work. In housing, it is innovative floor plan solutions that can facilitate care work, that must be flexible to adapt to changing life situations, and that increasingly allow paid work to be carried out in a home office. In both cases, ecological aspects - e.g., energy and resource conservation in the home, climate adaptation in public spaces - must also take into account the needs of those who perform care work.

Labor economics

In addition to facilitating the combination of paid work and care work through jobs and services close to home, this dimension focuses on the distribution of paid work in planning professions. Currently (2022), the proportion of women in Germany is 35.6 % for building architects and 34.5 % for urban planners, with by far the largest proportion working as salaried employees, and the smallest proportion working as commercial and freelance architects and planners (see BAK statistics). Only 1% of the planning offices with more than 10 employees are managed by women.

The gap between students and the active workforce is striking. In architecture, the share of women is currently 58%, in urban planning 54%. In 1973, the proportion of women was still 17%, in 1997 it was 44%. In other words, the subject is increasingly developing into a "women's field". The fact that this is not (yet) reflected in the proportion of women employed is presumably due to the older generations and thus a question of time. The proportion of self-employed female planners will presumably not automatically increase as a result. Traditional structures and attributions are still very powerful here.

Public infrastructures/resources

Gender-conscious urban planning provides infrastructures that promote gender equality. This includes a supply of everyday goods that is close to home and appropriate for everyday life, as well as the availability and accessibility of social infrastructures (schools, kindergartens, nursing homes, health care, cultural and sports facilities) and offices. The model of the city of short distances, which has been pursued since the 1980s - infrastructure facilities can be reached in no more than 15 minutes by bicycle - helps to reconcile paid work and care work. This also applies to open spaces and recreational areas close to home, which at the same time are an important contribution to adapting to the climatic changes caused by global warming. 

For social cohesion, but also for better distribution and visibility of care work, the provision of public spaces where, for example, people can cook and eat together and meet or play without any pressure to consume is an important prerequisite. Some cities make the first floor spaces of new buildings available for this purpose.

In view of the limited availability of space, especially in inner-city areas, it is important to create a balance between the different user groups in the use of this space. So far, 60% of the space in cities is used by cars - this must change in favor of other users and purposes.

Institutionalized androcentrism/ power of definition

How prevailing attitudes toward gender roles shape urban planning has already been discussed in the gender dimension of symbolic order. To this day, urban and regional planning, as well as open space planning and residential development, are primarily oriented toward masculine models of life. Although the necessary gender expertise has been available in these areas for many years, although countless publications are available that prove the importance of gender-equitable urban and regional design, although guidelines, checklists and analysis tools are available for this purpose - far too little of this is still implemented. This is also due to the fact that gender expertise is more likely to be found among women than among men. If decision-making positions are then male-dominated, these aspects do not receive the attention they deserve. To the detriment of all people.

Shaping Power at actor’s level

We already pointed out the relatively low proportion of self-employed female planners and architects under the gender dimension of labor economics. Data indicate that female architects and planners work disproportionately in decision-making positions, significantly more often part-time, and earn significantly less than men (see PlanRadar blog article). All of this points to lower shaping power. On the other hand, the urban and regional planning sector in particular is known for its participation requirements or offerings. Making these gender-conscious has long been a demand of feminist architects and planners. This is usually not enough for gender-responsive design. Many (good) examples show how the participation of users, and especially of women or those providing care, changes the planning. These changes are good for all users, as experiences confirm again and again. However, this presupposes that with every new planning task, new inquiries are made about gender-, age-, and group-specific interests and needs. (see Difu report and ORF article)

Body, health, self-determination and privacy ('intimacy')

Safety and freedom of movement in public spaces are an essential prerequisite for unrestricted mobility and activities. However, "spaces of fear" are repeatedly addressed in planning processes, especially by LGBTIQ* girls and women, people affected by racism, and people with disabilities; these include parks, bus stops, underground parking garages, or deserted streets. Urban planning and social control can contribute to making these places safer. This includes, for example, lighting, clarity, easy orientation, good accessibility and social mixing of public spaces. However, safety in public, semi-public and private spaces is primarily a social problem; urban planning can only have an accompanying effect here. (see ZDF article and studies by Plan International and SKMR). 

Women in the City: Urban development as a topic at the G7

For the first time, this year's G7 meeting will also include a meeting of urban development ministers. In the run-up to the meeting, the German government presented a concept paper that will be discussed at preliminary Technical Expert Group meetings. There are three main topics: 1. women in the city, 2. sustainable planning and building, and 3. social cohesion and livable neighborhoods. Focal points for the topic of women in the city are transport, women in municipal decision-making positions, safety in public spaces and intersectional aspects. The first working group meeting, where these three topics were discussed in depth, took place on June 14. The final ministerial meeting just took place (September 13 and 14) under the leadership of Federal Minister of Construction Geywitz.

With a small task force, Women7 has prepared a demand paper that addresses the issue in a somewhat broader way, among other things by additionally making demands for the expansion of care infrastructures. It also calls for the implementation of inclusive and innovative urban planning processes that counter colonial and patriarchal continuities and segregation by socio-economic status, or the expansion of decentralized, renewable energy supply that involves women throughout the production chain. The paper can be downloaded here.

On October 13-14, 2022, the G7 Gender Equality Ministers meeting will take place. In the run-up and in parallel, there will also be a big meeting of the W7-Advisers, which will end on October 14 with a public closing event "We are here, we are loud! United against the backlash" at the SchwuZ in Berlin. More information on our event page.

URBACT 2022 Gender Equal Cities Report

The European exchange and learning program for sustainable urban development URBACT has published a new Gender Equal Cities Report in June 2022. More information on this and the full report can be found in the press release and under the publications tab.

Recording of panel discussion on ‘How gender equality creates sustainable cities’  

As part of the URBACT City Festival in June 2022, a panel discussion was held to make critical connections between gender, social justice, and climate change. Using examples from the Gendered Landscape Network and the URBACT Gender Equal Cities report, the panel explores actions that urban decision makers can use to make local progress towards SDG5.  

The recording of the discussion is available in English and French (panel start: 08:24:25 and 08:19:40 respectively).

International working group Gender- and Climate-just Cities and Urban Regions  

Transdisciplinary processes and approaches are important for the formulation of problem-based research questions and in seeking solutions for gendered climate neutral and resilient cities and regions. This is what the international working group "Gender- and Climate-just Cities and Urban Regions" of the Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association (ARL) is working on. Based on the current state of the art in science, the working group takes a closer look at the social, gender and diversity dimensions in the broad debate on approaches to climate-neutral and climate-just cities and urban regions in Europe.

Two key research questions emerge:

• How is the social and gender dimension integrated in climate neutral and smart planning processes instruments and policies of (green) cool urban spaces and landscapes in the European context? Which aspects of climate justice are reflected in these instruments?
• What is the added value to integrate a gender perspective on planning urban open spaces concerning climate neutral and smart cities and urban regions? How can it help to further climate justice?

In September 2021, the first face-to-face meeting of the working group took place in Vienna, and a second meeting was held in Magdeburg in April 2022.

Networks

• Gender Equal Cities  (LinkedIn group)
  The Gender Equal Cities group is dedicated to discussing urban planning policies and practices that make cities more gender equal, with a strong focus on Europe. #GenderEqualCities is an initiative by URBACT and CEMR. It aims at:
  (1) celebrating the advances made in equality
  (2) highlighting ways in which cities are driving change through gender sensitive policy making
  (3) digging deeper to understand the barriers that still hold back progress
  (4) making recommendations for more equitable urban planning and governance.

Selected Publications

• URBACT 2022 Gender Equal Cities Report  
  This URBACT report aims to inform and inspire policy makers to take action in their cities. Gender equality is a cross-cutting issue that touches many aspects of municipalities' work. To make the information as accessible as possible, the content is divided into the key themes of representation and participation, governance, economic equality, public services, planning and public space, and equity, diversity and inclusion.
  They reflect regional and global priorities as outlined in the Council of European Municipalities and Regions' Charter for Equality, some of the 12 areas of the Urban Agenda for the European Union, and Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 11.
  Each of these sections provides some context and concrete actions that cities can take to achieve gender equality. Good practice case studies show how gender equality is being actively addressed by cities across Europe.
  
  URBACT (ed.). 2022. Gender Equal Cities 2022. Download