The Gendered City

Principles of #Feminist Conversational Spaces #Participatorydesign currently operates within a man-made system that has excluded diverse voices for far too long. This is why critically challenging the system itself is the first step toward feminist participation systems. Internalized misogyny and patriarchal structures often shape how #women express themselves, engage, and share their ideas. This is why transforming participation systems is essential to ensuring true feminist engagement and representation. https://lnkd.in/dhtVCVsF

🏙️ 📐For this week's #podcast episode, I’m thrilled to share an insightful conversation with Dr. Nourhan Bassam, feminist urbanist and architect, author and founder of The Gendered City and the FEM. DES. Network. We discussed how urban spaces reflect unequal societal and gender norms, often reinforcing power imbalances, restricting #mobility and marginalizing individuals from diverse gender, racial, economic, and religious backgrounds. We explored how outdated urban planning designs confine individuals to specific roles and behaviors in public spaces, limiting their #right of #access to—and #safe, meaningful participation in—city environments. We also reflected on current efforts by modern cities to address gender-based violence #gbv and power inequalities in areas like mobility, #transportation, #housing, and employment (including #unpaidcarework). Additionally, we considered how feminist perspectives on urbanism are shaping what non-sexist cities could look like, both today and in the future. 💜You can listen to the Womanhood & International Relations Podcast new episode here: https://lnkd.in/ev9yv5kw and subscribe to our #newsletter community here https://lnkd.in/eJ7Zf6n4

How Public Is the Public? Where Do We Go When We Don’t Go #Home? The Right Not to Go Home? Developing the FEM. DES. Network Agenda over the past period has been exciting and challenging. From feminist walks to night walks, co-creation labs to mapping, this agenda is a living, evolving framework that I am looking forward to implementing #globally; it centers #care, #solidarity, and disruption. It is about #reclaimingspace, #challengingerasures, and insisting on the #righttomove,#linger, and #existfreely in the city—on our own terms. Explore some of the themes! from FEM.MAPPING: Mapping as a feminist tool—Counter-Cartographies Who is missing from the maps? to FEM.DARK that has been already tested this past period, to the #FEMINIKIT. Excited to explore this along the incredible Toby Godfray, Cassandra Rice, Alejandra Benoso, Andrea María Navarrete Mogollón, Sepideh Baghaee, Romain L., Spiwe Kahuni, Martina Tresca, Karolina Orcholska, Jaisha Mubashir, María Florencia Vidal, Alejandra Pinto Cárdenas, @sara, Gabriela Estefanía Riera Robles, many to come!! https://lnkd.in/d9Rp7D_B.

FEM.DES through the lens of our mobility strategist from Gdańsk Karolina Orcholska. My Aspirations and Plans for #Gdańsk within FEM. DES. Network. "For me, cities are about relationships—between people, between spaces, between daily routines and the systems that shape them. That’s exactly why I feel so connected to the mission of FEM.DES. I am grateful to cross paths with a powerful, much-needed #globalnetwork that is developing frameworks for rethinking urban life through a feminist lens—one that acknowledges lived experiences and challenges the status quo. In Gdańsk, I aim to adapt this framework to the local context, drawing inspiration from the FEM.DES Agenda developed by Nourhan Bassam, the FEM.DES #GlobalDirector." Full Read from #Gdańsk https://lnkd.in/dPPB8mgS.

Can’t wait to see how all of Nourhan Bassam work develops here in the UK!

The FEM. DES. Network of The Gendered City is shaping up with the launch of 30+ City Chapters, led by a total of +35 incredible FEM.DES Directors and Co-Directors driving change in their local contexts. From a pool of 200 inspiring applications, I had the privilege of conducting interviews that truly filled my heart—so many remarkable individuals I hope to continue growing with. Read Talia Kertsman’s reflections on her FEM.DES journey and story. Talia was one of those conversations that truly made my day! I can't wait to share more about this incredible community from all over the globe. The brilliance of this network that it keeps growing by the day, and it's truly inspiring to witness! ✨ "The Power of #IntergenerationalNetworks  I’m thrilled to join the FEM.DES City Chapter cohort, representing Cambridge alongside an inspiring network of leaders from 30+ cities worldwide. The opportunity to engage in intergenerational collaboration, exchange knowledge, and shape feminist urban futures excites me. Exploring #Cambridge’s unique local context—and later #London or beyond—allows me to contribute, learn, and align my work with my passion for inclusive and feminist cities." https://lnkd.in/dGe5pGHk

FEM.DES Through the Lens of Our Cambridge City Lead, Talia Kertsman As we welcome our City Chapter Directors, we are thrilled to introduce an incredible new talent to the FEM.DES family. Our #Cambridge City Lead is sharing valuable insights as they navigate the first steps of launching FEM.DES Cambridge. Dive into her #ElCamino insights—from #Cambridge to #London and beyond—as she shares what excites her most about joining the FEM. DES. Network City Leads cohort and shaping the future of feminist design in her city. 🧨 https://lnkd.in/dssUJfcG

#Sexism begins at home, is reinforced in schools, and spreads across both physical and digital spaces. I couldn’t stop myself from watching Adolescence on Netflix this past weekend, and it truly delivered. Beyond its gripping narrative, what struck me most was the subtle yet relentless presence of #everydaysexism woven into the story. From the female detective whose existence is overlooked to the CCTV operator who repeatedly oversteps at work, the series doesn’t just expose toxic masculinity; it highlights the countless ways in which women are dismissed, undermined, and interrupted in both professional and personal spaces. #Misogyny isn’t always loud; sometimes, it’s in the quiet, insidious moments. Jamie’s erratic behavior mirrors the real-world consequences of such radicalization, where vulnerable boys, seeking belonging and validation, are groomed into believing that #women are the #enemy. The manosphere capitalizes on their insecurities, blaming feminism for their struggles and reinforcing a narrative of male victimhood that justifies hostility and violence. My, oh my, what a long road we’ve traveled, yet #sexism persists and is far from over. Full read here! https://lnkd.in/d86Wrm_E

The #PriceWePay for Mobility #AfterDark Our research reveals the hidden costs of simply moving through urban spaces after dark. 🔸 75% change their route when traveling at night compared to the daytime. 🔸 Only 2% feel totally safe traveling after dark. 🔸 81% have experienced harassment while traveling at night, with 40% facing it multiple times. In response, our participants shared key actions that could improve nighttime mobility: ✔️ Better & evenly distributed lighting to eliminate dark, unsafe spaces. ✔️ More frequent & reliable public transport to reduce long waits and forced walking. ✔️ Safer waiting areas with surveillance, emergency support & visible security. ✔️ Affordable, accessible transport options, like subsidized women's taxis. ✔️ Active, vibrant streets with businesses open late to create informal surveillance. ✔️ Community-based safety measures, including night patrols & public awareness campaigns. A city that fails women at night fails everyone. Full insights by our director Nourhan Bassam here! https://lnkd.in/dq4ukjui

As part of our commitment to #feministdesigneducation worldwide, we aim to expand this research further and deepen its impact. Comunidad de Medellín, ¿dónde están? ¡Necesitamos su ayuda! 📢 FEM.DES MEDELLÍN, Chloe Cizeron, an undergraduate geography student at the University of Victoria, is collaborating with our FEM. DES. Network. São Paulo director Carolina Carvalho on a research project exploring women’s mobility in Medellín. Their research examines how urban regeneration and the city’s shift to a tourist economy impact women’s daily experiences and access to public spaces. To deepen this understanding, they are launching a survey and are seeking support in connecting with contacts in Medellín for distribution. It takes two minutes In English https://lnkd.in/dkHgU6RC In Spanish https://lnkd.in/d9mF_Rsr