When Men Control the Debate About the Future of Cities

"Over the past five years, as the cost of living in cities has skyrocketed, the movement of self-aware gentrifiers into neighborhoods historically occupied by lower-income residents, people of color, and immigrants has created a market for gentrification advice," writes Alissa Walker.

"The irony is shattering. A group of very white, very loud men have confirmed that they are, indeed, the problem when it comes to our cities, and now the conversation about how to fix them is mostly being conducted by very white, very loud men—who happen to be very active on social media," adds Walker.

"It turns out that the absence of women from the conversation about how cities have been made, and remade, over the last 50 years has directly fed their wealth disparity and urban displacement."

Walker's feature-length article reveals just some of many (many, many) ways male hegemony has manifested in the urbanism debate and the development history of cities, while also identifying some of the writers, researchers, and advocates who are elevating female voices.