Amsterdam

Cities, while vibrant hubs of activity and opportunity, often fail to provide safe and inclusive environments for women. Urban spaces are frequently designed without fully considering the unique experiences and needs of women, leading to environments where they may feel unsafe or excluded. Poorly lit streets, isolated pathways, and insufficient public transport options are common features that heighten vulnerability and limit women’s mobility, particularly at night.

Public spaces, often dominated by a “one-size-fits-all” approach, neglect the reality that women frequently face harassment, violence, or intimidation in urban settings. This lack of gender-sensitive urban planning not only perpetuates feelings of insecurity but also restricts women’s access to opportunities, recreation, and social interaction.

Designing cities with women’s safety in mind means prioritizing open and connected spaces, accessible transportation, and inclusive community hubs. By addressing these shortcomings, cities can evolve into spaces where everyone—regardless of gender—feels empowered to navigate and participate fully in urban life.

The Gendered City initiative aims to transform urban spaces by addressing gender bias and fostering inclusive environments. It seeks to ensure women have equal opportunities, safety, and influence, while raising awareness of gender disparities in urban planning and advocating for meaningful change.

The FEM.DESign network is a global coalition of over 200 experts, including urban designers, economists, and academics, dedicated to addressing gender inequities in cities. Local chapters, such as FEM.DESign Cities in Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, and Bogotá, facilitate collaboration and knowledge-sharing. To support practitioners and policymakers,

The Gendered City created the FEM.DESign Toolbox, which provides practical tools, methodologies, and data for integrating gender perspectives into urban planning. This resource emphasizes simplicity, clarity, and inclusivity, enabling decision-makers to design cities that meet the needs of women and marginalized groups.

The initiative enhances its impact through outreach and advocacy, using FEM.Academy, public talks, and workshops to address challenges faced by women in urban environments and promote gender-responsive design.

The Gendered City initiative is reshaping urban planning by advancing gender equality through innovative networks, tools, and advocacy. Central to this effort is the FEM.DESign network—a global community of feminist design experts uniting academia, practitioners, and urban designers to collaborate, share knowledge, and exchange best practices. Together with FEM.DESign Cities, this network drives collective action to create more inclusive urban spaces.

Practical resources like the FEM.DESign Toolbox are at the heart of this initiative, equipping urban planners with feminist design tools and methodologies. These provide actionable strategies, data, and guidance to ensure cities are developed with gender inclusivity in mind.

Outreach and education are equally prioritized. Through public talks, workshops, conferences, and the FEM.ACAdemy online platform, The Gendered City spreads awareness, shares insights, and fosters global conversations on gender-inclusive urban planning.

Collaboration with organizations like UN-Habitat’s HER CITY amplifies impact, pooling expertise to tackle gender disparities in cities.

Currently, The Gendered City is producing a documentary titled The Gendered City, spotlighting the real-life experiences of women and marginalized groups in urban environments. This film aims to inspire meaningful dialogue, engage broader audiences, and advocate for systemic change, emphasizing the importance of inclusive urban design.

Together, these initiatives form a powerful movement toward creating cities that reflect the needs and rights of all.