Reimagining a ‘man’-made city

For too long, cities of Pakistan have remained man-made spaces in the literal sense of the phrase with little attention to the needs of anyone who is not an able-bodied man. Mobility of women has suffered from severe neglect as a result. This has been hindering opportunities in the areas of education, health, recreation and employment.

As argued by David Harvey, cities can be reshaped and reimagined by citizens in order to create urban spaces that reflect their own needs. Pakistan’s cities are in dire need for some reimagination; by women, for women. They must be planned in a way that allows women to lay claim to a space that has been taken from them. Women should be included in all initiatives and efforts related to urban planning and development in order to close the gaps that currently exist in city design.

Most women prefer to take private modes of transport which may be their own cars, rickshaws or app-based cabs as opposed to public transport. Those who travel on motorcycles have to mostly rely on a male member of the family to pick and drop them. This prevents women from developing an independent relationship with their city. Those who can drive or afford commuting via cars and rickshaws are better off, but the women who have no choice but to adjust their own schedules in order to suit the man responsible, face serious problems when it comes to their education and work. It is no surprise then that so many are forced to give up their jobs and education. In more recent years, women can be seen driving motorcycles on their own but these instances are rare.

It must also be noted that when we talk about improving the mobility of women, we don’t just mean women who drive their own cars or can afford a driver. The landscape of urban mobility should include walkability, public transport as well as bikes and cycles. Concerns about safety are a major hurdle which discourages women from walking alone or opting for cycles. This in turn impacts the relationship women build with their cities. They become accustomed to perceiving the streets as hostile, instead of spaces that belong to them. If half of the population of a country is unable to take ownership of the space around them, not only will this have an adverse impact on them as a group but is also counterproductive for the overall development of the city. By detaching women from the streets, the narrative of them being confined within the four walls will only be reinforced, thus restricting their social and economic opportunities.

When reclaiming space for women, the urban design must also be cognizant of who the space is being reclaimed from — The woman selling socks in Liberty market, or the trans beggars of Bhatta Chowk in Lahore have claim to the space as much as anyone else. Our attempts to improve the city cannot discount their right to the space. Instead of swift anti-poor action, efforts should be made to integrate informal sellers and transwomen into the workforce of nearby markets. There is also an increase in women’s participation in freelancing work. The city management and development authorities should respond to this need by facilitating the establishment of co-working spaces for IT and traditional sectors such as handicrafts. This step can enhance women’s participation in the labour market.

Pakistan has a long way ahead when it comes to making its cities friendly spaces for women, but a good and effective starting point would be ensuring improvements in urban design for future projects. If sufficient thought is put into initial planning with regard to the mobility of women, significant strides can be made to tackle the issues at hand. A good city design which is sensitive to the needs of women, children, senior citizens and people with special needs would strive to improve their mobility throughout the city. Public spaces should be designed in a way that women can hang out and loiter without feeling excluded. Gender-inclusive urban designs can take us a step forward in terms of reimagining our cities for the better!

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2020.

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