She City: Designing Out Women’s Inequity in Cities

She City explores how gender shapes urban spaces and city design, offering practical strategies to promote women's public participation and create safer cities. It is a valuable resource for professionals working in architecture, urban design, and planning.

Format: Hardback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 08 February 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Based on feminist political thought, She City sheds light on how gender influences the design and layout of our urban environments. The book is divided into three sections: Resisting Sexist Cities, Designing Feminist Cities, and Prioritizing Safer Cities. In these sections, Kalms explores the barriers to women's public participation and emphasizes practical strategies, policies, and actions to overcome them. She City addresses significant themes such as violence against women and gender-sensitive design, offering guidance for practitioners while inspiring confidence to pursue new avenues for creating women-centered urban environments. This comprehensive book is a valuable resource for architects, urban designers, planners, and professionals in the built environment who are dedicated to building cities that genuinely meet the diverse needs of women and girls.

Introduction:
She City, rooted in feminist political thought, delves into the profound impact of gender on urban spaces and city design. Through its comprehensive exploration, the book aims to shed light on the barriers that hinder women's participation in public life and provide practical strategies, policies, and actions to overcome them. By addressing significant themes such as violence against women and gender-sensitive design, She City not only offers guidance for practitioners but also inspires confidence to pursue new paths toward creating women-centered urban environments.

Resisting Sexist Cities:
In the first section, Kalms examines the challenges faced by women in urban spaces and highlights the need for resistance against sexist cities. She explores the historical roots of gender inequality and how it manifests in urban environments, such as unequal access to resources, services, and opportunities. Kalms also examines the social and cultural norms that perpetuate gender-based violence and discrimination, and the role that architects, urban designers, and planners can play in challenging and dismantling these norms.

Designing Feminist Cities:
The second section focuses on designing feminist cities that promote gender equality and empower women. Kalms discusses the importance of gender-sensitive design in creating inclusive and safe spaces for women. She explores the principles of gender-responsive design, which considers the unique needs and experiences of women in the planning and design of public spaces. Kalms also provides examples of successful projects that have incorporated gender-sensitive design principles, such as women-only parks, safe transportation systems, and gender-neutral restrooms.

Prioritizing Safer Cities:
The third section emphasizes the importance of prioritizing safer cities for women and girls. Kalms explores the various forms of violence that women face in urban environments, such as sexual assault, harassment, and domestic violence. She discusses the strategies and policies that can be implemented to prevent and respond to these forms of violence, including public education campaigns, improved lighting and security measures, and robust law enforcement systems. Kalms also highlights the role of community organizations and grassroots movements in advocating for women's safety and promoting gender equality.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, She City is a groundbreaking book that provides a comprehensive and insightful examination of how gender shapes our urban spaces and city design. By highlighting the barriers to women's participation and emphasizing the practical strategies, policies, and actions to overcome them, the book offers a valuable resource for architects, urban designers, planners, and professionals in the built environment. She City inspires confidence to pursue new paths toward creating women-centered urban environments and promotes gender equality in our cities.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350153080