Cities for whom? Re-examining identity, to reclaim the right to the city for women

Abstract

The right to the city contests causes and manifestations of exclusion. A large part of this exclusion can be attributed to the way cities are perceived and designed—they tend to reinforce existing hierarchal (in most cases, patriarchal) structures, which can be discriminatory. Moreover, the narrow understanding of the 'end user' blurs the social complexity of identity for particular groups. This paper joins Fenster (2005) in search of a gendered notion of the right to the city vis-à-vis multilayered intricacies around social identity and discrimination. More specifically, and in recognition of the complexities of diversity and difference, there is a need to understand and acknowledge the value of intersectionality and multiple layers of disadvantage and discrimination in order to build more inclusive and safer cities. This paper discusses the multidimensional nature of identity within the context of exclusion and reduced citizenship by drawing from women’s experiences in Melbourne, Australia and Bengaluru, India. In Melbourne, the alienation of women with disabilities facing violence is examined. While in Bengaluru, domestic workers’ increased vulnerability due to their lack of recognition is examined. Both cases show that the right to the city is embedded in power relations, which need to be challenged in order to renegotiate the women's right to the city.