Study the "Women-Friendly City" in the Context of Lived Experiences of Citizens Towards Achieving Sustainable Development

علوم اجتماعی دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 20 April 2025   

Document Type: Original Article

DOI: 10.22067/social.2025.92107.1610

Authors

mahtab moosavi¹; Amirali Boroumand^{* 2}

¹Department of Environmental Planning and Management and HSE, Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

²Department of Environmental Planning, Management, and HSE, Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the network of issues faced by women for realizing a women-friendly city. The research adopted a qualitative approach, utilizing a grounded theory method, with semi-structured in-depth interviews as the primary tool. To achieve theoretical saturation and maximum diversity in explaining the studied topic, 25 individuals were interviewed in person and virtually through purposive sampling. The core codes emerged in the form of causal conditions, including: "the formation of cities based on male-centric ideologies, needs, and capabilities," "insecurity of urban spaces for women," "confinement of women to domestic environments and responsibilities," "imbalance in the allocation of economic and social capacities and opportunities," "lack of updated and supportive laws aligned with the needs of modern women," and "limited and difficult access to public facilities, services, and spaces." Intervening conditions included: "lack of financial transparency in the calculation and payment of women's wages," "dominance of outdated and incorrect social values regarding women's active participation in society," "absence of female representatives in expert, decision-making, planning, and legislative hierarchies," and "inadequacy of HSE, aesthetic, welfare, and environmental standards to meet women's needs." Contextual conditions included: "persistence of patriarchal, traditional, and restrictive governance patterns in urban management," "lack of positive discrimination supporting women's presence and role in the urban sphere," and "labeling women as second-class citizens and undervaluing their work and activities in society." Finally, the research findings were presented in the form of a paradigmatic model, with the core category of "marginalization and exclusion of women from urban spheres."

Keywords

Sustainable City; Inclusive City; Family-Friendly City; Balanced Urban Development; Urban Sociology

References