In the pursuit to decarbonize transport and democratize access to safer mobility, transport systems need to be inclusive, just, and sustainable. This is the guiding principle behind the “Building Feminist Cities” workshop series, an initiative launched by Women Mobilize Women (WMW) under the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI). Supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), this series seeks to reshape urban transport systems by centering them around the diverse and intersectional realities of all members of society, particularly women and other marginalized groups. Building Feminist Cities aims to cultivate a diverse, global community committed to constructing more feminist, resilient, and adaptable transport systems capable of addressing increasing societal and climate shocks.
The Vision Behind Building Feminist Cities
The concept of feminist cities is rooted in the understanding that traditional urban planning and transport systems have largely been shaped by patriarchal norms. These systems often fail to address the needs of women, minorities, and other marginalized groups, leading to environments that are not only inaccessible but also unsafe for these populations. The “Building Feminist Cities” series emerges as a response to this gap, aiming to reimagine and reconstruct urban mobility systems that are gender-responsive, safe, and sustainable for everyone.
Women Mobilize Women initiated this new workshop methodology in the wake of BMZ’s first Feminist Development Policy, introduced in 2023, which aligns perfectly with WMW’s mission to empower women in the transport sector – both as workers and as users. Additionally, Women Mobilize Women seeks to highlight the diversity of urban transport systems across the world, each facing unique challenges and opportunities in the realm of feminist mobility. The Building Feminist Cities series further aims to strengthen connections between regional and local actors and networks, fostering collaboration and regional insights through interactive sessions.
The “Building Feminist Cities” series was inspired by the WMW Study Tour “Feminist Voices in Transport,” which took place in Berlin in March 2023. This tour brought together global experts to discuss feminist approaches to urban mobility, sparking a conversation that would extend far beyond the initial gathering. Recognizing the importance of continuing these discussions across different regions, WMW decided to launch a series of events aimed at deepening the global understanding of feminism in relation to transport, inclusion, and sustainable cities.
BFC in India: Launching a Global Dialogue on Feminist Urban Planning
The series was officially launched in November 2023 with a workshop in Delhi, India, co-hosted by WMW and Safetipin. This inaugural event brought together over 70 participants, including feminist thinkers and activists, government officials, transport workers, representatives from development banks, the private sector, academia, and civil society. The workshop was a resounding success, highlighting the importance of cross-regional learning and the need to harness WMW’s global network to reimagine and co-create feminist transport systems. A key session featured Urda Eichhorst, Kalpana Viswanath, Insa Illgen, and Laura Ballesteros, who highlighted the challenges women, LGBTQI+ individuals, and other marginalized groups face in navigating city spaces. From the unacknowledged care work resulting from the absence of women’s perspectives in planning to the persistent issues of sexual harassment and limited accessibility, the dialogue underscored the pressing need to reshape our urban spaces.
The discussion continued with the panel “How do we build feminist transport systems?,” led by Krishna Menon, Laura Ballesteros, Sarika Panda, and Mitali Nikore, who explored the intersection of gender, mobility, and citizenship. The discussion emphasized accessible and safe public transport as a fundamental right for women, urging a shift in urban planning to prioritize pedestrians over cars. Laura Ballesteros highlighted the broader implications of mobility rights, including access to work, clean air, and basic human rights.
In her Keynote Speech, Naomi Mwaura highlighted her personal journey which led her to founding the women-led ‘Flone Initiative’ working towards the creation of safe, sustainable and accessible public transportation spaces for women and vulnerable groups in Africa.
“Crafting equitable transport systems that cater to the unique needs and challenges faced by women is not only a matter of justice but a gateway to economic growth, social inclusion, and overall well-being” Naomi Mwaura I Founder and CEO Flone Initiative
The panel “Women Who Move the World: Voices of Transport Workers” featured women from the Indian Railways, Delhi Transport Corporation, Lucknow Metro, and representatives from the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). The moderator introduced the project, ‘Remarkable Women Who Move the World’. This collaboration between ITF and Women Mobilize Women is focused on strengthening women’s access to secure jobs, ensuring a safe commute, and supporting frontline workers to join transport unions advocating for feminist policies.
Further sessions investigated gender-based violence against women and trans individuals, the meaning of intersectionality for mobility, and concluded with a creative exercise to imagine feminist cities using abstract 3D design.
BFC in the Philippines: Exploring Intersections of Inclusivity Through Urban Mobility
The second event in the Building Feminist Cities series took place in Manila from May 14 to 17, 2024, as part of the Asia and the Pacific Transport Forum (APTF). Organized by Women Mobilize Women (WMW), NDC-TIA, and Women on the Move, the event focused on the intersection of gender, inclusivity, and transport, with the aim of developing feminist, sustainable urban mobility systems. BFC Manila built on the inaugural event in Delhi and continued to foster a global dialogue on creating inclusive, resilient, and adaptable transport systems in response to social and climate challenges.
One of the main highlights was the panel discussion titled “Building Feminist Cities: Looking at the Intersections of Inclusivity,” held on May 17. The panel examined how urban spaces and transport systems can be made more inclusive through a feminist lens, addressing the needs of those traditionally marginalized in urban planning. Panelists included Ines Sanchez de Madariaga, UNESCO Chair on Gender, who highlighted the importance of gender analysis and caregiving mobility; Vanesha Manuturi, Communications Manager at Kota Kita Foundation, who focused on the role of safety and security in transport; Thysz Estrada, Chairperson of PANTAY, who emphasized the safety of transgender individuals in transport spaces; and Angelica Mata from the National Confederation of Transport Workers Union (NCTU), who advocated for the rights and safety of informal transport workers, particularly women.
Following the panel, the participants were invited to join a Jane’s Walk to explore the city through a feminist perspective, analyzing pedestrian infrastructure with AI images of some sites to prompt people’s imaginations. The Jane’s Walk stretched for 2.1 kilometers and included 67 participants, 44% of whom were male and 56% female. Overall, BFC Manila emphasized the importance of integrating feminist perspectives into urban and transport planning, fostering more inclusive, safe, and accessible cities for all.
“We often think, ‘what do children know?’ when it comes to planning. But they are sometimes the most relevant users of our transport infrastructure. We need to consider their experiences, too,” Vanesha Manuturi, Communications and Advocacy Manager at Kota Kita Foundation
BFC in Brazil: Pathways to Inclusive and Sustainable Mobility
The third Building Feminist Cities workshop took place in Brasília in August 2024. The event, titled “Building Feminist Cities: Pathways to Inclusive and Sustainable Mobility,” brought together professionals from across Latin America to address gender and inclusion in urban planning and public transport systems.
The event kicked off with a session on intersectionality, highlighting how overlapping forms of discrimination impact women’s mobility. Cyntia Carvalho e Silva, a delegate from DECRIN, presented alarming statistics on violence against women in Brazil, emphasizing the urgent need for safer public spaces. Paola Tapia Salas from Chile discussed her country’s initiatives, including nighttime stops for women, and stressed the need for de-masculinizing the transport sector.
“According to an IDB study, female drivers are more empathetic, drive more safely, create a better work environment, and even make better use of electric bus batteries because they drive more smoothly,” Paola Tapia Salas, Director of Metropolitan Public Transport at the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications of Chile.
The workshop also featured interactive sessions like the “Aquarium” dynamic, where participants shared their experiences in mobility. Clarisse Cunha Linke of ITDP Brazil emphasized the importance of integrating caregiving work into transportation planning and hiring more women in the sector.
The event concluded with participants making commitments to advancing feminist urbanism, including the launch of Brazil’s first network focused on feminist cities and transport .
Next up: BFC Kenya at the fifth Women and Transport Africa Conference
We’re excited to announce that the next edition of Building Feminist Cities will take place in Nairobi, as part of the Women and Transport Africa Conference, from the 4th to 6th of December 2024. This hybrid conference will spotlight groundbreaking research, trends, and interventions in inclusive mobility across Africa. Join us to engage with leaders, practitioners, and policymakers in exploring gender-responsive urban design and transportation planning. Highlights for more than 400 expected participants include keynote speeches, panel discussions, practical workshops, and insightful field visits. This event promises valuable networking opportunities and a chance to contribute to building more equitable and accessible cities.
A Global Movement for Inclusive Mobility
The “Building Feminist Cities” series is not just about individual events; it is about fostering a global movement. Through workshops, trainings, and dialogues, WMW collaborates with local partners in various regions – Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America – to contextualize feminist principles within local mobility systems. Each event is co-designed with regional partners to ensure cultural sensitivity and relevance, and to enrich the discussions with local perspectives.
Participants in these events are encouraged to continue their collaboration through the Global Alliance for Feminist Transport, a digital platform and network designed to sustain momentum beyond the in-person gatherings. This platform serves as a global meeting place for feminist changemakers in transport, connecting regional networks, NGOs, trade unions, researchers, advocates, and transport practitioners. It is a space for peer-to-peer learning, resource sharing, and collaboration, driving the global agenda towards more equitable mobility systems.