The Power of Feminist Urbanism in ‘The Gendered City’ by Nourhan Bassam

I have lost count of how many times I have read ‘The Gendered City: How Cities Keep Failing Women’ (2023) by Nourhan Bassam, a book that came into my hands a few months ago after meeting her and promising to review it as part of my bibliographic exploration for the systematic literature review in my Ph.D. in Engineering.

 

There’s much I could say about Nourhan. Of everything, perhaps my favorite aspect is our conversations, along with the joy of revisiting her book. She expertly combines her academic training in urbanism with an intersectional feminist approach, demonstrating how gender and race intersect within the urban experience. Beyond her accomplishments in urbanism, her work stands as a model for feminist researchers everywhere. It’s indispensable for broadening the horizons of gender studies and urban planning. Nourhan focuses much of her work on criticizing and dismantling the patriarchal structures that have historically shaped city design and planning. She is also a leading advocate for more inclusive urbanism that addresses the diverse needs of women and other marginalized populations. ´The Gendered City´ is one of her most influential works, offering profound analysis and suggestions on how cities can be transformed into more just and equitable spaces.

 

The first section of the book, The City is Built on Gendering, examines how cities have been designed throughout history to replicate and maintain gendered power dynamics. Nourhan makes it clear that cities are not neutral spaces; instead, they play a significant role in shaping how men and women experience urban environments. Using an intersectional feminist lens, she explores how gender intersects with other social categories, including race, class, and sexuality, to create different urban experiences of oppression and privilege. She also highlights how urban policies and city design often perpetuate exclusion and unequal access to public spaces, disproportionately impacting women and other marginalized communities.

 

In the second part, Collective Failures in the Gendered City, Nourhan delves into how and why urban environments that favor men often fail to support women and other marginalized groups. She examines how urban life is embedded with power dynamics that marginalize women, from street design to public transportation. Nourhan sheds light on gender-based violence in urban spaces and the exclusion of women from public life, advocating for more inclusive and safer city policies that benefit all genders. She emphasizes the ongoing issue of violence and harassment in public spaces and stresses the importance of including diverse voices in urban planning.

 

The third part, Departing from the Gendered City, addresses how we can think beyond the long-standing gender-specific structures in urban planning. Nourhan argues that to build fair and equitable cities, patriarchy must be eradicated as a guiding principle in the conception and design of public spaces. This section introduces the feminist concepts of the “caring city” and the “15-minute city,” showing how these paradigms can shift priorities and realign urban planning with social needs. The chapter challenges dominant paradigms that have long ignored feminist perspectives, emphasizing that care should be universally provided, particularly in key life events.

 

‘The Gendered City’ is divided into three interconnected sections that explore the exciting intersection of urban design and gender studies. Nourhan argues that the male-centric approach in urban planning often overlooks the diverse needs of all city dwellers, particularly women and minorities. She shines a light on serious issues like gender-based violence in public spaces and the exclusion of women from urban life, pointing out that many urban policies simply don’t work for everyone. While some cities are beginning to recognize the importance of gender-sensitive urban planning, many still have a long way to go.

 

For example, Nourhan discusses the “Safe Cities” initiative by UN Women, a movement aiming to make urban areas safer and more inclusive. She believes it’s crucial to shift our thinking in urban planning towards creating spaces that are equitable for everyone. One of the concepts she explores is the "15-minute city," a vision where all essential services—like grocery stores, schools, and parks—are within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. By reducing the time needed for errands or commuting, this model could make life easier and safer for women, who often face challenges when traveling long distances.

 

Moreover, Nourhan introduces the idea of a "caring city," where communities are designed to foster support and interaction among residents. Imagine neighborhoods where people know each other and look out for one another, creating a more sustainable and equitable environment.

 

Nourhan weaves these concepts together, advocating for a feminist perspective in urban design. She emphasizes the importance of creating cities that are not only safe and accessible for everyone but also acknowledge and address the inequalities that exist based on gender, race, or social class. By doing so, we can help ensure that every person feels valued and included in the urban spaces they call home.

 

She also paints a vivid picture of how gender dynamics play out differently in cities around the globe, highlighting the ongoing influence of patriarchal structures on women's experiences. For instance, in Cairo, women face significant challenges navigating public spaces due to the constant threat of sexual harassment, which limits their freedom and impacts their emotional and physical well-being. In Dubai, women must navigate a complex web of cultural and religious expectations that dictate how they should behave and dress in public, limiting their freedoms and reinforcing existing power dynamics. In Milan, the feminist movement has made notable strides in reclaiming urban spaces, with women’s centers and organizations actively creating a cultural landscape that promotes gender equality. Meanwhile, in Paris, certain areas of the city still reinforce sexist attitudes, impacting women’s safety and freedom of movement. Even in progressive Amsterdam, challenges persist, particularly for women from racial or ethnic minorities, showing how gender experiences are intertwined with other social identities.

 

´The Gendered City´ was published in a context where gender studies and urbanism are constantly evolving, with a growing focus on creating urban spaces that reflect equity and inclusion. In 2024, these studies have gained significant relevance, partly driven by social movements advocating for the rights of women and other marginalized groups in the public sphere. Bassam offers a critical analysis of how cities have historically reinforced gender inequality, while also illuminating potential paths toward more inclusive urban living.

 

One striking idea from the book comes from Lauren Elkin, who reminds us that “Space is not neutral. Space is a feminist issue.” This quote captures Bassam’s core message: the spaces we inhabit—our city streets, parks, and public areas—are imbued with meanings and power dynamics that affect men and women differently. Her arguments resonate strongly with current practices in urban design and transportation. For example, by incorporating a gender perspective into public transportation planning, we can create systems that are not only safer but also more accessible for women, reducing the risk of harassment and violence. She highlights that the way we design our mobility options significantly affects women’s quality of life, limiting their access to jobs, education, and social opportunities.

 

However, she doesn’t shy away from addressing the challenge of dismantling patriarchal structures that have long influenced urban planning. While progress has been made, many cities still struggle to integrate a gender perspective into their policies and designs. She emphasizes that transforming these deeply rooted systems requires a collective effort that embraces diverse perspectives and actively challenges existing power dynamics.

 

In essence, ´The Gendered City´ is not just a critique; it’s a call to action. Nourhan Bassam urges us to rethink how we design our urban spaces to ensure they serve everyone, regardless of gender. Through a feminist lens, a lens that all urban planners should wear, she’s not only critiquing these enduring structures but also offers a vision for more equitable and inclusive cities. Her work is a vital reminder that creating cities that genuinely cater to all people demands a willingness to challenge the status quo and reimagine the foundations of urban life. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in urbanism, gender studies, mobility, and social justice, as it opens our eyes to the possibilities of a more inclusive future.

 

More about ´The gendered city´ here: https://genderedcity.org/

You can buy it through Amazon in the following link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPC79GBK