An initiative in the early stages in Toronto would require city planners, among other public officials, to more directly consider the needs of the female residents of the city.
Lauren Pelley reports that Toronto city staff "have outlined a plan for bringing a gender-based lens to city programs and services — in areas like housing, transit, child care, and urban planning — while establishing a new unit to make that strategy a reality."
City staff have prepared a report for implementing the gender-based considerations for presentation to Mayor John Tory's executive staff.
To exemplify the need for a gender inequity focus at the city level, Pelley cites examples like the wage gap between genders in the city and the need for public safety considerations designed specifically for women and girls. The report also notes a shortage of female leadership in the city, both in private business and in elected positions.
The gender equity effort "started with a survey from Vienna city officials two decades ago on how residents use public transportation, notes coverage from CityLab," explains Pelley. "It found women used public transit more often than men, and made more trips on foot."
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