GENDER INCLUSIVENESS IN THE PLANNING OF URBAN SPACES

Abstract

Due to the difference in the biological and social need of men and women in urban society, they have different ways of using public spaces. Such concerns are rarely addressed in the planning process. Therefore, cities planned and built in gender-neutral ways limit women and girls from exploiting the city’s infrastructure and services equitably. This paper aims to identify the extent to which gender inclusivity is considered during the planning stage of urban spaces in Kathmandu and what impact it has on the designed space’s gender inclusiveness. It was found that there was limited involvement of the female in the planning and designing process of the parks. The infrastructure of the park was found gender neutral and the percentage of females using the park was significantly lower than males. This was due to the lack of incorporation of a female perspective in the design. Hence, functions such as child cares in parks and less male-dominated spaces need to be integrated into the design through female participation starting from the planning phase to render the urban spaces gender-inclusive.