This was a little article in the London Free Press:
Sexist in the City
As a woman I can say that there are places I just don't go in the city. Things escalated when I made a move to a larger more bustling metropolis. Instead of going out more I found myself leaving the house less. Shouldn't I be out enjoying life? The reason why I am not might astound you. The design of cities is sexist!
When cities were designed roadways were built for men to travel back and forth to work. This isn't the case anymore but city designs haven't changed and they should. The forward thinkers of Vienna have instituted a policy of "gender mainstreaming" designed to promote equal access and opportunity for both men and women in urban environments. Some elements of these policy-improvements in lighting and the design of walkways-were explicitly created to address gender differences in both fear of crime and victimization. Why isn't there an initiative to do something like this in our cities?
Dr. Colin Ellard, a research psychologist with the University of Waterloo studies how built spaces make us feel. In his new book Places of the Heart: The Psychogeography of Everyday Life, Ellard discusses our love hate relationships with the environments we live in.
This topic has the potential to be a great article about how we can change our cities for the better. Let me know when you would like to speak to Dr. Ellard and I will arrange his schedule.
Regards,
Kristine Pettit,
Assistant to Dr. Ellard
