Elizabeth Farrelly poses that as we get more connected via the internet and social networking, the female traits of connectivity and relationship-building are ascendant and may mean a new feminine paradigm for city-building.
Farrelly argues that as we leave the suburban model (which separated female and male activities, relegating women to unimportant activities) behind and life and work become more about networking and connectivity, we are moving towards a more "female-formed city":
"The principles of urbanism - intricate connectivity, engagement with history, a focus on the slow, the pedestrian, the being there (as opposed to the getting there) - are feminine values. So, it should be no surprise that many of the voices of this ''new'' urban movement, from Jane Jacobs onward, are female," writes Farrelly.
Her belief is a female-formed city would be less tall and would be "...crazed with interconnecting laneways and gardens and courtyards, lots of shared spaces..."
FULL STORY: Gender and the city
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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JM Goldson LLC
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Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)