Vienna, the worlds ‘Most Liveable City’, took the pioneering decision to implement Gender mainstreaming in 1990 and has since been working to eradicate the gender bias entrenched in their urban planning. Gender mainstreaming is the practice of ensuring women and men are accounted for equally in policy, legislation and resource allocation and ensures ‘fair shares in the city’. Cities designed by male planners for men like them has led to women being excluded from the design of their built environment. In 2020, women continue to be disadvantaged by the ideological belief that male needs are universal. Vienna’s policies reflect the differing needs of the genders by providing equal opportunities for the pedestrian in the city, after research revealed 2/3 of them were women. By critically assessing the motivation, implementation and outcomes of Vienna’s gender mainstreaming projects, a conclusion is reached on whether Vienna’s policies should be used as a model for other cities in terms of their ability to elevate gender equality. This analysis takes into consideration the significance of local factors on the applicability and likelihood of success of the policies when used outside of Vienna. The research uses key theories from feminist theorists including Luce Irigaray and Simone de Beauvoir, as well as hypotheses from the recent work of Caroline Criado Perez, to critique the ideas behind, and the implementation of, gender mainstreaming. Vienna’s pilot projects are assessed against a criteria of success generated from outcomes of this project that reflect upon the realities of women’s lives and their role in society.
Permanent link to this resource: https://doi.org/10.24384/06sf-cw02
Woodford, Rhiannon
Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment
Year: 2020
© Woodford, Rhiannon