A STEP TOWARDS WOMEN FRIENDLY CITIES

Thesis statement: - Architecture is one of the most important factors that can contribute
largely towards the safety of women.

ABSTRACT
Public spaces are the bridges that connect an individual to the society. It is the
platform through which unlimited knowledge can be exchanged, a wide range of culture can be
witnessed, ideas can be generated and basic human values can be developed. Thus, a public space
should be such that it caters to people of all age groups, caste, gender, physical capabilities and
educational qualifications. However, many a times we notice that public spaces are mostly male-
dominated. Why is this so? Is it because the public spaces designed are not welcoming enough to
attract women? And if so, then why? This research paper sheds light upon the psychology of
women, when it comes to public spaces, the factors that make them feel unsafe or vulnerable in a
particular space and how can we make spaces more welcoming and safe for women.

INTRODUCTION
The built environment is the medium through which we navigate our lives every
day. The spaces around us dictate the way we move about in our surroundings. As we move through
different spaces, we can connect and we experience a number of emotions-good or bad.
Public spaces are the most crucial part of the society, where we can find people of
every age group, however, the experiences that they share, vary a lot. Talking on the basis of gender,
most women feel insecure in public spaces. This is due to a wide range of factors including poor
design and infrastructural facilities, behavioural pattern of society, shortcomings of education
system with respect to gender relations and sexuality and economic disparity. Women have
disclosed that they feel safer on crowded roads with vendors, hawkers, rickshaw drivers, public
transport and other people who make a living on the streets rather than deserted ones.

MANUSCRIPT BODY
A research conducted by CEPT University says that “Socio cultural perspective
studies have revealed how the lack of proper infrastructure- lighting, good design, and visibility at
stops and stations, proper signage in regional languages, bus or train timings and lack of strict
vigilance from the transport and law and order authorities, can infuse a sense of insecurity among
women. Overcrowded buses and poorly lit bus stops have been identified as few of the major
factors that cause women discomfort and insecurity while travelling. Women have reported various
instances where they think, in overcrowded buses, the men take advantage of the fact that they
would not be identified or directly confronted .”
The Delhi’s Nirbhaya Jyoti rape case occurred because the public transport was not
available and the couple had to board a private bus, which they did not know was non-
commissioned at the time of their boarding. Non-availability of public transport forces commuters
to use Intermediate Public Transport (IPT), such as auto-rickshaws, taxis, and other unsafe transport
modes such as six-seaters, etc. Women in particular feel unsafe while riding such vehicles.
A UN Habitat Report says that, "it is widely acknowledged that women and girls
living in low-income urban contexts are disproportionately affected by safety hazards and
gender-based violence due to inadequate sanitation facilities or lighting. In places that that
don't have indoor toilets, women face danger every time they go to use a faraway outhouse, or
worse, have to go to an informal outdoor "bathroom" where they have little privacy and are
vulnerable to sexual harassment or violence”.
Sexual harassment is a persistent and dangerous problem on Britain's streets, women's
charities have warned, as a poll reveals that more than four in 10 young women were sexually
harassed in the capital over the last year.

Now the question that arises is,”Can architecture make women feel safe?’’. The current
planning of most of the countries is patriarchal. This dates backs to 1909, where planners had
backgrounds in professions such as civil engineering, architecture and public health, which were
fields dominated by men, although architecture had a small female contingent, whose opinion
would get neglected by the majority. The Un Habitat report also states that, “The gender imbalance
in the planning profession was reflected in the way planning issues were identified, conceptualised
and addressed. The concerns of planning reflected the backgrounds of planners and the society in
which they worked, as it still does today. Early approaches to urban planning were homogenous,
tended to favour healthy white males and made ‘patriarchal assumptions about the role of women.’’
This led to creation of spaces designed from a patriarchal perspective.

Currently, most architects, planners and policy makers are still men, which leads to the
male perspective of design. When we get more women at the table, naturally the perspective,
the needs and the talents of women can start showing up in the built environment.

The built environment should be built keeping women in mind, in order to make them
feel safe and comfortable while using these spaces.

With reference to the CEPT article, here are some ways in which we can make women feel safe
through proper planning.

1. Good lighting- Poor lit streets are perceived as dangerous. A well lit street would reduce fear. It
would make the street welcoming, for women and for all, including senior citizens. It would
enable mobility. Imagine more women walking down that street; just the presence of women
would make a place feel safe.
Scholarly work conducted in the 1960s and 1970s found that criminal assaults most
frequently occur during hours of darkness and that improving street lighting in corners and by
lanes is commonly followed by reductions in crime of between 33 percent and 70 percent .
Reports also say that it’s the natural instinct of people to be drawn towards light. This can
help make the space lively.

2. Maintaining clear sight lines to public spaces by cutting back shrubs-Unruly, wildly growing
shrubs, act as a vision barrier. The negative space between shrubs can act as a residing place
for anti-social elements, making the space unsafe. Proper landscaping can help strike the
balance between safety and aesthetics.

3. Giving pedestrians priority- Well-lit sidewalks are also an important consideration for a safe
and comfortable built environment for women. “Sidewalks, crosswalks and parking spaces
need to accommodate strollers. Sidewalks must be wide enough for families to be able to walk
together, crosswalk signals must be timed for a mother with a stroller or a walking kid in tow,
and parking spaces need to be designed so it is easy to put car seats and strollers in and out. ”

4. Clear signage- “There have to be better signage on the road and public transport information
available so that women are not forced to ask strangers on directions and public transport
availability as there are possibilities of strangers misdirecting or assaulting them in secluded
places.”
 5. Occupancy. "The factor that contributed most highly to women's sense of safety was 'a
variety of/ lots of other people about'; often they would add 'smiling people', 'happy people',
'the sound of children laughing'…Designers and decision-makers need to think more about
how to attract a wide range of different people to come and enjoy themselves in the public
spaces of towns and cities. One way of achieving this is simply through making such places
beautiful – a concept rarely discussed in the context of safety," the study found.

6. General maintenance- Public places should be well maintained.

7.Safe Transportation-“Transportation infrastructure can have a huge impact on women. Well-

lit and well-surveilled parking lots with clear sight lines to the street and the buildings
surrounding it are important, especially at night. Train stations, train platforms, bus stations
and cab stations that feel safe and comfortable for women are also extremely important.
Women-friendly transportation infrastructure ensures that women have equal access to all parts
of the city.”

8. Design for children-Women are often the main caregivers for their children and it is
important that the built environment is welcoming to children as well. David Byrne said , "a
city that is good for children is good for everyone”. Areas designed for children automatically
create areas for a lot of women gathering.

9. Provide amenities for women-Safe, free and comfortable spaces for women to stop and
nurse their babies should be a must while planning. Proper well maintained sanitary facilities
in well lit areas, too are a must.

10. Make way for more women in the policy, planning, design and construction fields.

The CEPT report also states other way to make women feel safe:

 Organising cultural, sports, and recreational activities in neighbourhood public spaces: By

doing so one ensures increased activities in the neighbourhood, making spaces more lively
and active. This also ensures ‘eyes on the public spaces’, making them increasingly safe.
These activities along with helping in ensuring safety will also bring the neighbours closer
and contribute to better health of the people.
 Have well-lit spaces, entry/exit spots, corners: This becomes an extremely important
solution. This doesn’t just make their chances of identifying their attackers easier, but also
ensures their visibility, which may be able to fetch help if needed.
 Promote mixed-use development along the public spaces: Land use planning also needs to
promote mixed land uses so that there are activities on the street during all times of the
day. For example, presence of shop fronts and vendors give a sense of security on the road.
Places for public activities that can attract people at all times of the day too afford a sense
of security.
 Provide round the clock surveillance- formal or informal: Since surveillance has been
indicated as a great contributor in increasing safety of women, it is extremely important to
have round the clock surveillance. It can be formal by providing more patrolling offices,
CCTV facilities, etc or informal by creating spaces for vendors, shopkeepers, people, etc.

CONCLUSION

Our spaces can influence people, their behaviour and emotions. Based on all the above
factors, we can understand the importance of architecture in ensuring the safety of women. By just
fulfilling some of the basic necessities and viewing the world from a women’s point of view, we
can create a more sensitive design, making our surroundings a much better place to live in.
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