U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Making Safer Places: Gender and the Right to the City

NCJ Number
228069
Journal
Security Journal Volume: 22 Issue: 3 Dated: July 2009 Pages: 219-229
Author(s)
Yasminah Beebeejaun
Date Published
July 2009
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This paper illustrates how the current urban planning system has created an agenda which overlooks women generally as citizens of the city.
Abstract
Research shows that the city has a long history as the site of possibility for less restrictive urban lives and a mix of possibilities. However, this has existed in tension with the desire to regulate the activities of women within the city. Research has traced how the planned city sublimates the role of women. It is argued that urban planning's contribution to livable safe cities has not been innocent in reinforcing gender divisions despite the literature to attempting to address these deficiencies. This paper challenges city planning's continued gendered nature towards securing urban spaces and presents empirical findings which use alternative approaches to making safer places. Three areas for consideration in empowering women in urban settings include: (1) women's perceptions of safety, (2) gender equality in the public sphere, and (3) securitization measures as disempowering or empowering. Note and references