Planning for the Other Half

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• Learn how planning approaches considered neutral and unbiased may have an inherent gender-bias.
• Apply new approaches to collecting data, evaluating existing conditions, and developing urban design and transportation projects to address the needs of all.
• Apply practical lessons learned from best practices and case studies to advance gender-equity in planning, through specific project approaches and organizational management and leadership.

MORE SESSION DETAILS

Studies show that women and men have different patterns in urban areas, particularly when it comes to using public space and transportation. Gendered perspectives affect how streets are designed, travel patterns, housing choice, employment opportunities, and safety. Yet a deliberate discussion about how men and women perceive and interact with the city is still largely overlooked in most planning projects. A recent outpouring of articles and media attention on this topic reinforces the need to address “universal design” and examine why women are needed at meetings, managing projects, and in the board room. According to APA’s 2016 APA/AICP Planners Salary Survey, almost half of respondents in the planning field are female planners (42 percent). However, this hasn’t been the case over the history of the planning profession, and many of our cities and planning methods reflect this. This session will explore the conscious and subsconsious gender biases in planning methods, the role of women in cities and urban planning, gendered design, and the critical need for female decision-makers. Hear from the experience of female planners, designers, and academics in the public and private sector as they challenge gendered norms, explain why women matter, and share case studies and lessons learned about successful planning approaches for all.