Gender, Planning and the Policy Process

Planning has a central essential legitimacy in addressing social goals. Despite the ideal position of planning in being able to initiate, encourage and strengthen the links between the theory and practice of feminism in its relationship with gender, planning can act against women's interests and thus reinforce the unequal distribution of powers between the sexes, not only within the planning discipline but also in the assumptions and pratice in our use of the built environments. This reluctance on the part of planning to recognize gender implications is part of the wider policy making process and its production and maintenance of gender inequality in the built environment. This book provides a feminist interpretation of contemporary urban planning. It outlines the gender inequalities which characterize many areas of mainstream planning as well as the assumptions and practices surrounding our use of the built environment. The book incorporates detailed theoretical discussion on the underlying basis and form of women's subordination and applies this discussion to the development and implementation of planning policies.
Original research is used to provide evidence of the response by panners and policy makers to gender divisions within the built environment. Attention focuses on both the establishment and operation of formal "women's initiatives" within local government and on the promotion of specific policies aimed at meeting women's needs within key areas of planning. Individual chapters cover: male power and women's inequality; women and land use planning; women, power and decision making; women and employment; accessibility and transport; and gender and housing.