‘Gender mainstreaming’ key to planning places that work for all, says RTPI

A gender dimension should be incorporated into all stages of the planning process to ensure benefits for all, a new research paper from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has concluded.

Women and Planning: creating gender-sensitive urban environments post-Covid-19 argues for the implementation of urban planning policies sensitive to gender-specific needs - known as ‘gender mainstreaming’ - into all policy, legislative and decision-making practices.

This approach, the report says, would help to ensure that future built environment solutions have equal regard to the experiences of all people irrespective of gender, particularly as the world moves into a post-pandemic recovery period.

However, the study found that the integration of gender mainstreaming into spatial policy-making has been held back by a range of different factors including inadequacies of both the education and planning systems, which has resulted in gender inequalities going largely undiscussed and hidden from view.

The report, published on International Women’s Day 2021, was co-authored by RTPI Policy and Networks Adviser Jenny Divine and Deputy Head of Policy and Research Prof Aude Bicquelet-Lock.

Jenny Divine said: “The implementation of gender mainstreaming into every stage of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of urban planning policies, programmes, and projects will ensure that gender equality is enhanced and that all people benefit equally.

“There is much work still to be done. Systemic inadequacies in the planning and education systems which were uncovered by our research continue to hinder women’s ability to shape policies and progress decisions that have positive implications for gender equality attainment."

RTPI President Dr Wei Yang FRTPI said: “As we begin the recovery from the pandemic, there is huge potential to integrate a gender dimension into the place-based initiatives that UK governments are increasingly exploring to facilitate a joined-up and collaborative approach to planning. Incorporating a gender dimension will create opportunities to expose hidden inequalities, break down the gender biases that have been present for too long in the built environment, and create solutions that have regard to the experiences of all people.”

Qualitative data was collected for the research via questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with 50 female and 2 male planners. The majority of respondents were based in the UK but the study also includes the views of respondents based in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US.

The new report is the second in a series from the RTPI. Women and Planning: An analysis of gender-related barriers to professional advancement was published in February 2020.