Abstract

The design of cities and suburbs in the second half of the twentieth century has often neglected women’s needs and their lived experiences. Women are disadvantaged in settings that were not created with their views and experiences in mind (Greed 2006). Consider, for example, the creation of isolated suburbs where mothers strive to care for households and participate in paid employment without ready access to nearby stores, schools, and jobs; the design of transportation systems meant to accommodate single adult commuters on their journeys to work, rather than women with children running errands; and the layout of urban environments that does not ensure safe travel. Increasingly, we recognize that fundamental changes in urban design and form are needed to create cities that are more equitable for women.