Conception et aménagement de l’espace public et iniquités de genre : effets sur la santé des femmes
This resource is only available in French.
The built environment: a significant determinant of health
Public spaces (parks, green space, public transit stations and public washrooms) are components of the built environment. These spaces have an impact on population health and well-being, as they have the power to encourage healthy lifestyles and prevent many population level health problems. However, when public spaces are not inclusive (that is: they do not respond to the needs of all), this may lead to health inequities.
Populations subject to social and economic marginalization, including women, are more likely to reside in areas where access to public space is reduced. Additionally, the historic structure of social relations between genders is a result of gendered inequities. Specifically, a large portion of cities and their neighborhoods have been designed to meet the needs of classes composed predominantly of men; women manage within those spaces as best they can, according to their resources and their responsibilities. This report presents a systematized narrative review describing gendered inequities associated with the urban landscape and the design of public space as well as the effects on women’s health.
Health equity at the core of the built environment
With the intention of supporting health equity associated with development of the built environment, the authors of this report analyzed gendered inequities in land use planning, and the organization of public spaces, and prepared an inventory of intervention pathways that do develop equitable public spaces.
The results have allowed the development of a non-exhaustive representation of the production of gendered inequities in public spaces. The representation explains how the characteristics of public space influence usage and frequency of use by women and how these influence women’s health:
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Access, mobility and the perception of safety are some of the mechanisms that positively or negatively affect the use and frequency of public space.
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According to the type of use, there may be consequences affecting the practice of physical activity, on socioeconomic participation, on social interaction and on the restorative effects enjoyed upon contact with green space.
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These consequences would have repercussions on some of women’s characteristics, particularly socioeconomic position, daily life, and health status.
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Note that those last three characteristics would affect and equally be affected by the use and frequency of use of public spaces.
Practical approaches to reduce gendered inequities in public space
The report identifies several actions, under the category of environmental health, aimed at reducing gendered inequities in public spaces, such as:
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measures supporting the siting and access to public infrastructure;
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actions to improve the perception of safety;
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actions to improve the inclusive nature of recreational and sporting infrastructure;
The proposed actions show that the landuse planning and the organization of public spaces is an important determinant of health to consider for supporting equitable use and frequency of use of public spaces.
Use this resource to
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Develop more inclusive and equitable public spaces
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Develop action plans to reduce gendered inequities in the built environment, particularly land use planning and the organization of public spaces
Alignment with NCCDH work:
The NCCDH supports the Canadian public health community to address the structural and social determinants of health to achieve health equity. Sex and gender are determinants of health that must be considered in all policy, decision-making and programming.
The NCCDH has focused on developing and highlighting resources to support gender equity in public health work.
Webinar: Gender identity, sexual diversity and health equity in public health
Gender identity, sexual diversity and health equity: A curated list
See other resources related to sex and gender and health equity.
Reference
Labesse, M-E., Louis, A. (2024). Conception et aménagement de l’espace public et iniquités de genre : effets sur la santé des femmes [Report]. Institut national de santé publique du Québec.
Tags: Environmental health, Sex & gender, Government, Document, Report / Document