Redefining the Norm
Gender-sensitive urban planning is transforming cities into spaces that are truly inclusive and fair for all, breaking away from outdated, one-size-fits-all designs. We spoke with three visionary women leading this change to learn how they're reimagining urban spaces for safety, accessibility, and real representation.
Interview with Nourhan Bassam, Safaa Charafi, and Ines Kawgan-Kagan, elaborated by Marina Martín Vilches.
POLIS: How would you define gender-sensitive urban planning in simple terms, and what is the key takeaway you want people to understand about it?
Nourhan Bassam: Gender-sensitive design is an approach that aims to challenge traditional design practices by creating environments that are inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the specific needs of women, men, and gender-diverse individuals. It amplifies marginalised voices, promotes safety, accessibility, and comfort, and tackles gender inequalities in areas such as public spaces, housing, transport, and urban planning. Ultimately, gender-sensitive design fosters inclusive environments where everyone can thrive, participate, and feel represented.
Safaa Charafi: It calls for actively dismantling the patriarchal and power structures embedded in our cities. This involves recognising that cities are shaped by power dynamics, which must be questioned and changed. Urban planning should not follow a one-size-fits-all approach; cities need to be designed with the lived experiences of all people in mind, particularly those who have historically been excluded from the planning process, which includes anyone who is not a cis-hetero (white) able-bodied man.
Ines Kawgan-Kagan: Many also assume that gender-sensitive urban planning is solely about addressing women's needs. This misconception arises because the needs of women and marginalised groups have long been neglected in urban planning, and now planners must catch up by considering more than just the daily commute of full-time, able-bodied men. We must rethink our approaches and standards; by improving the urban environment for those who have faced barriers in the past, we also improve it for others, creating a more inclusive space for everyone.
POLIS: How do patriarchal norms and biases hinder cities from becoming more equitable, and how can gender-sensitive planning contribute to creating more inclusive and fair cities?
Kawgan-Kagan: Patriarchal norms and biases are the root cause of why urban planning has historically focused on men's needs, and these influences persist to this day. These issues are deeply ingrained in society and are not easily changed. Obstacles can arise when people are not personally affected and have not encountered problems in their own environment, making the need for change less obvious to them. Sometimes, there is even resistance, as some fear that addressing the needs of marginalised groups will take something away from them.
Charafi: They perpetuate the idea that cities should prioritise profit and capital over people. This leads to cities that cater to the needs of wealthy, predominantly male elites, while neglecting the safety and well-being of women, gender-diverse individuals, and marginalised communities. Urban spaces are often commodified, and public spaces are increasingly privatised, excluding those who cannot afford to access them. Gender-sensitive planning calls for a shift away from designing cities for economic efficiency and towards designing them for human dignity and equity.
Bassam: Traditional city design does indeed often prioritise economic productivity and male-dominated public activities, overlooking vital services like childcare, healthcare, and safe, accessible transport. This neglect puts women at a disadvantage, leading to longer commutes, unsafe environments, and restricted access to essential resources. By addressing issues such as safety, mobility, and accessibility, gender-sensitive urban planning challenges the patriarchal status quo and reimagines cities to be more inclusive and equitable.
POLIS: What role does mobility play in creating fairer cities, and how can it be made more gender-inclusive?
Kawgan-Kagan: Mobility is not an end in itself; we move to carry out activities in our daily lives, and being mobile is essential for social and economic participation. Gender-sensitive urban planning fosters a livable environment by acknowledging the differences in how we experience our cities. Mobility can be enhanced by providing secure and affordable infrastructure and services, as well as creating seamless transitions between transport modes or stations. High levels of accessibility, reliability, and availability ensure that everyone has equitable opportunities to participate.
Bassam: It is essential for creating fairer cities, as mobility directly influences access to opportunities, services, and public spaces. While women’s daily lives are often shaped by unpaid domestic and caregiving responsibilities, traditional mobility systems frequently overlook these gendered patterns. To address this, mobility systems must be designed with an understanding of how women use cities, prioritising flexibility, accessibility, and safety. This includes enhancing lighting, creating safe transport routes, and improving access to public services.
Charafi: Mobility is inherently political. The ways we move through cities reflect existing power dynamics, often excluding marginalised groups from safe, affordable, and accessible mobility options. For instance, women worldwide are more likely than men to rely on public transport and frequently engage in ‘trip-chaining.’ Transport systems that accommodate these patterns foster a more accessible environment. This includes rethinking urban spaces that prioritise cars and reimagining them for collective, sustainable, and accessible transportation.
POLIS: What aspects of feminist placemaking are commonly overlooked by cities and planners, and how can an intersectional perspective improve feminist placemaking in urban settings?
Mother seeing kid to school, Inside Creative House
Charafi: Feminist placemaking can sometimes fall into the trap of assuming that women’s needs are uniform, whereas they vary significantly based on factors such as race, class, age, migration status, and ability. All too often, the focus is on the needs of middle-class, white, able-bodied women, while the compounded oppressions faced by black and brown women, migrant workers, and low-income and disabled communities are ignored. We must also address the structural barriers that impact diverse groups of women in different ways.
Bassam: Many cities struggle to create spaces that reflect the diverse ways in which different individuals use and experience these areas. Vulnerable groups, particularly women and children, often feel excluded or unsafe in public spaces due to poor design, inadequate lighting, insufficient infrastructure, and a failure to tackle issues of harassment and violence. An intersectional approach to feminist placemaking can enhance urban environments by addressing the varied and overlapping identities of those who use public spaces.
Kawgan-Kagan: There are several key aspects to gender-sensitive urban planning, including the importance of understanding the needs of others, not just oneself. For instance, care work must be considered in urban design. If one is unaware of the requirements for caring for children, they are unlikely to create an environment that accommodates those needs. With a historically male perspective dominating public spaces, the interests of young girls, for example, have also often been overlooked, resulting in a lack of inviting public areas for them.
POLIS: Could you share examples of successful gender-sensitive urban planning and mobility practices and initiatives, both in Europe and beyond, if available?
Bassam: One of the most successful examples of gender-sensitive urban planning and mobility practices can be found in Vienna, which was among the first cities in Europe to integrate gender mainstreaming into its urban planning and design. The findings from this initiative resulted in a set of recommendations aimed at enhancing safety. While this serves as a top-down example, many impactful changes often originate on a smaller scale, and grassroots projects play a vital role in promoting gender-sensitive urban design.
Charafi: We need to critically examine whether these ‘success stories’ go far enough. While Vienna has enhanced its public spaces, these improvements do not tackle deep structural inequalities. Bogotá’s ‘Safe Cities’ program serves as another example; it aims to reduce harassment on public transport through measures such as gender-segregated buses during peak hours. Although these initiatives represent steps in the right direction, they raise questions about whether they address the root causes of gender violence or simply manage its symptoms.
Kawgan-Kagan: Other examples include the emphasis on cycling as the primary mode of urban transport in the Netherlands and the concept of Superblocks, which originated in Barcelona and is now implemented in various cities. While these approaches are not explicitly gender-sensitive, they have numerous positive effects for all groups and do not solely address typically male needs. For instance, reducing car traffic creates a safer environment, enhances overall safety, decreases noise and air pollution, and thereby improves the quality of life in these areas.
POLIS: What advice would you give to public authorities to better integrate gender-sensitive approaches in their planning and policies?
Kawgan-Kagan: My advice to authorities is to allocate resources to this topic and reach out to experts, as the complexity of the issue necessitates knowledge and understanding. Gender-sensitive approaches require a shift from previous practices, often initiated by an individual or a small group. Therefore, if you are an individual or a group beginning to address this issue within your institution, I recommend gathering existing data or information and examining it for gender differences. This will provide you with valid evidence to present your case and raise awareness.
Charafi: Authorities need to stop viewing gender-sensitive planning as an ‘add-on’ and start recognising it as essential to dismantling the systems of oppression embedded in our cities. Public authorities should begin by collecting gender-disaggregated data to understand how different groups utilise urban spaces, and this data should inform policy decisions. It is also crucial to engage with women and other marginalised groups throughout the planning process in a genuinely participatory manner.
Bassam: To integrate gender-sensitive approaches into public planning and policies, public authorities must demonstrate strong political will. The design and development of cities are heavily influenced by the priorities established by political leaders and the economic frameworks within which they operate. Therefore, embedding gender-sensitive practices into these processes requires more than just technical adjustments; it demands a shift in political commitment and economic strategy.
POLIS: Is there anything not yet discussed in this interview that you would like to convey to the readers? Any final thoughts?
Woman cycling in Rotterdam, Lea Rae
Bassam: While achieving systemic change often necessitates concerted efforts from political leaders and institutional reforms, the actions and attitudes of individuals are vital in driving this change. By educating ourselves about issues of inequality, advocating for fair policies, sharing these ideas, and actively participating in community initiatives, we can all help create a world that values and supports everyone equally. Even small actions, such as engaging in constructive conversations or challenging biased practices, can collectively lead to significant change.
Kawgan-Kagan: In my experience, this issue tends to attract significantly more women than men. However, to tackle problems that are deeply rooted in our societal values and norms, we need to encourage more men to recognise the issue and be willing to change their perspectives and approaches. Many women are already aware of, or at least sense, the existing bias; in contrast, men often do not encounter the challenges related to contemporary mobility and public spaces that women face daily.
Charafi: We cannot discuss gender-sensitive urban planning without addressing capitalism, colonialism, and white supremacy. If we genuinely want to create equitable cities, we must stop treating these issues as separate and recognise their interconnectedness. Ultimately, it is about rethinking how we define ‘progress’ in urban development. Planning must focus on redistributing power rather than reinforcing the status quo. We need a radical reimagining of how cities function and for whom they are designed.
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About the contributors:
Interviewees:
Nourhan Bassam, PhD, Founding Director and CEO, The Gendered City organization. Bassam is a feminist urbanist and architect with a Ph.D. in Urban Design and Placemaking. She is the founding director and author of The Gendered City, which began as a book and has grown into an organisation dedicated to building gender-equal cities through feminist placemaking and active citizen participation. Bassam also launched FEM.DES., the world's largest feminist design network.
Safaa Charafi, Founder, Urban Inclusion. Charafi is an architect and urbanist specialising in gender-sensitive and inclusive urban planning. With expertise in feminist geography, diversity, and urban democracy, Charafi works to dismantle patriarchal and neo-colonial structures in cities, advocating for equity, intersectionality, and community-led development. Passionate about creating accessible, just urban environments, Charafi consults for international development organizations and is a recognised voice in the movement for inclusive cities.
Dr. Ines Kawgan-Kagan, Gender & Diversity in Mobility Expert, AEM Institute. Dr.-Ing. Kawgan-Kagan is an expert on gender and diversity in mobility, transport and public space, including innovative mobility services. She founded the AEM Institute and is a consultant, independent researcher and lecturer on her topics. She has an interdisciplinary background and has conducted research at several research institutions.
Interviewer: Marina Martín Vilches, Project & Communications Manager, & Small and Medium-sized Cities Platform Co-Coordinator, POLIS. Specialised in urban governance, Martín Vilches currently provides support for POLIS’ corporate communications with a focus on social media and works on electromobility projects and co-leads the activities of POLIS’ Small and Medium-sized Cities Platform. She is passionate about active travel, inclusive mobility, and innovative governance approaches.
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