The relationship between the presence of women in urban spaces and the indicator of urban desirability

Kanaani, Choman

doi:10.22034/ijumes.2022.713781

The relationship between the presence of women in urban spaces and the indicator of urban desirability

Document Type : Case Study

Author

Choman Kanaani

Department of Architecture, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

10.22034/ijumes.2022.713781

Abstract

The desirability of an urban space depends on the ability of the space to respond to the needs of its users. Although women make up half of the population of cities, the needs of this group have not been paid much attention in the design and construction of urban spaces. In general, women have special needs in connection with urban open space due to their special personality characteristics and social role, which requires meeting and meeting their needs in urban spaces, and if the space is not able to meet the needs of all user groups, it cannot be done. Therefore, the creation of suitable and responsive urban spaces to the needs of women and the relationship between the environment and their activities affects the urban space. The main aim of the current research is to identify and analyze the indicator of urban desirability in relation to the presence of women in urban spaces. In this research, the descriptive and analytical method, the analysis and logical reasoning method, which is based on the structural analysis method, has been used. Mic MAC software was used to analyze the data. The statistical population for carrying out the Delphi model was selected through purposive sampling, which includes 20 experts in the field of urban management, designers and city planners, experts in the field of women’s presence in urban spaces, who were selected using the method of structural analysis and software. Mic Mac, the effectiveness of indicator and driving forces are extracted. According to the results of the Delphi model and structural analysis, 5 decisive and influential driving forces include: comfort and convenience with a weight of 718, night safety with a weight of 686, physical access with a weight of 680, mandatory activities with a weight of 653 and the possibility of choosing activities With a weight of 650, they directly affect the presence of women in urban spaces. Also, 5 risk driving forces including: safety with a weight of 653, daily safety with a weight of 604, social interaction with a weight of 600 , leisure time with a weight of 588 and desire to participate with a weight of 580 indirectly affect the presence of women in urban spaces.

Keywords

Urban spaces

desirability

women

presence

urban life

Carrera, L., & Castellaneta, M. (2023). Women and cities: The conquest of urban space. Frontiers in Sociology, 8, Gender, Sex and Sexualities. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2023.1125439
Dinavi Rad, M., & Khajawi, M. (2013). Measuring the factors affecting the presence of women in the urban space (Resalat Park, Mashhad). In Proceedings of the 6th National Conference on Urban Planning and Management (pp. 21-22).
Farhadian, N., & Nafti, M. (2012). Investigating and organizing urban spaces to increase the presence of women. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Civil Engineering, Architecture and Sustainable Urban Development, Tabriz, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz branch.
Haji Ahmadi Hamdani, A., Majdi, H., & Jahanshahlou, L. (2014). Investigating the influential indicators on increasing the amount of women’s activity in urban spaces: A case study of Ponk neighborhood of Tehran. Urban Studies Scientific Research Quarterly.
Jacobs, J. (1961). The death and life of great American cities. Random House.
McDowell, L. (2017). Gender, identity, and place: Understanding feminist geographies. University of Minnesota Press.
Mohammadi, M. (2008). Investigating the necessity of women’s presence in the urban space. In Proceedings of the National Conference on Women and Architecture, Tehran, Sama Vocational Technical School for Girls.
Pakzad, J. (2004). Guidelines for the design of urban spaces in Iran. Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Deputy Urban Planning and Architecture.
Rampaul, K., & Magidimisha-Chipungu, H. H. (2022). Gender mainstreaming in the urban space to promote inclusive cities. The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa, 18(1).
Rampaul, K., & Magidimisha-Chipungu, H. H. (2023). Gender mainstreaming in the urban space to promote inclusive cities. The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa.
Rose, G. (2016). Feminism and geography: The limits of geographical knowledge. University of Minnesota Press.
Sadeghi, A. R., Shams, F., & Jangjoo, S. (2023). Women in a safe and healthy urban environment: Environmental top priorities for the women’s presence in urban public spaces. BMC Women’s Health, 23(1).
Sandercock, L. (2003). Out of bounds: The struggle for control of public space. Routledge.
Sifaei, M. (2004). Assessing the desirability of urban public spaces for the use of specific social groups (women): A participatory planning model studied at Haft Hoz Square, Tarbiat Modares University, Faculty of Arts, Fall 2014.