Inclusive Governance by Gender Equality: Innovative Vision to Humanize our Cities

Abstract

This paper suggests a broad approach to enhance the social sustainability through socially innovative and inclusive governance when planning and regenerating the urban landscape. A comprehensive approach to developing and managing a city requires both “top-down” and “bottom-up” strategies. Inclusive governance and social innovation can be achieved when both genders are equally included and appreciated in shaping the future landscape of their city, as residents, planners and as decision makers. Consequently, their involvement will decrease the impacts of a new development or action on the social dimension. Brown and Switzer (1994) argued that women have a greater concern for environmental issues, and thus should be more encouraged to become participants in government policy-making. However, if women policies are put in a separate code it gives the impression to planners that woman issues are other. Thus, this research prefer a broad approach about planning for the majority rather than planning for women, they can never plan entirely separately for women or for men , and it is a sign of polarization to imagine so. Moreover, a gendered inclusive practice would be sensitive to gender differences in the way the city is used and consequently able to make more informed choices than by taking standardized approaches assumed to fit everyone. Therefore, to achieve the real meaning of socially innovative and inclusive governance, the needs and motivations for both genders should be equally considered, and they have to participate through all design stages, as planners and as users for the urban landscape.



Author Information
Bushra Zalloom, Birmingham City University, United Kingdom

Paper Information
Conference: ECSEE2014
Stream: Social Sustainability & Social Justice

This paper is part of the ECSEE2014 Conference Proceedings (View)
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Posted by James Alexander Gordon