Reclaiming gendered urban spaces: enabling inclusiveness by advocating spatial mediation for mobilizing women- M.P. Nagar, Bhopal

Abstract

While women in most developing countries contribute significantly to the development of cities by being an integral part of the urban systems and functions, often they are the last to benefit from this development. Women have far more dynamic relationships with the city than men, “Poor spatial planning can often leave women “time poor”, Violence and fear of violence prevent women from utilizing the intended equal opportunities the city has to offer.” (UN-HABITAT, Thomson Reuters foundation). Alexander Cuthbert explains “patriarchal capitalism”, a male dominated approach for designing cities, that conveniently puts women in the back seat in its planning process making them vulnerable in urban spaces. With crimes against women reaching unimaginable height, one might dig into questioning the role of urban spaces generating unconducive environments for women. Authors like Jane Jacobs (Death and Life), Schlomo Angel (Discouraging Crime Through City Planning), C. Ray Jeffery, criminologist (CPTED), Oskar Newman's "Defensible Space - Crime Prevention through Urban Design (1972), "broken windows”, James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, have discussed in depth the role of built environments as one of the major components in enabling safer urban spaces. Theories establish that quality of Built Environment can influence the behavioral pattern of users and impact the nature of urban space directly. The study investigates on ‘Right to city’ and its effectiveness for ‘right to everyday life in a city’, asserting right of women to public spaces, instead of treating it as transit. ‘Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces’ is one of UN Women’s Flagship Programme initiative taking ‘freedom of movement’ for women in cities as center of women’s development. Through mapping and on-site observations, study conducted in a commercial center of Bhopal, M.P Nagar, loitering in public spaces with as much authority as men can be seen as a tool for women to reclaim gendered urban spaces. Cohesively designs can enable safer environment that improves how women access cities. The study revolves around Understanding role of Urban Design in determining Inclusiveness, enabling everyday urbanism in a part of city vi that the user, women and girls, use for dwelling, working, moving, educating, recreating and other everyday activities. Approach to design looks into integrating and introducing compatible activities that addresses larger groups from different backgrounds to be a participant in the visual urban landscape. Structure plan identifies pockets where public activities can be introduced and a fluid pedestrian network can be established. The design puts through the idea of safety route that ties all the public spaces together making a seamlessly connected inclusive and safe public link. This link is strengthened with responsive built edges that support eyes on street and breaks the rigid morphology, reinforcing interactive facades and edges shared by the street. Not only spatial but also support infrastructural like public transport, street lighting, resting spaces, public toilets, urban furniture, etc., have their own strength in supporting women’s mobility in the urban environment. To be able to define the nature of interventions, one needs to consider the immediate and long-term actions that can help address the issue. The approach must be broken up in stages addressing the quality, purpose and interfaces of open spaces, pedestrian networks and built edges that have a direct and collateral effects on how women perceive urban spaces. The study aims at improving the quality of urban experience for women that can enable mobility, promote sense of security and facilitate equal opportunity, with an urban character that is inclusive in nature and has something to offer for all. Diversity can bring variety of people and variety can offer opportunities to be a participant rather than merely being a passerby, making women an active user of the urban setting.