Posted on 09/02/2008 9:39:43 AM PDT by forkinsocket
The UK's towns and cities are designed primarily for men, not women, says a study. So what's the difference?
If a town was designed solely for women, how would it look?
If you think it would have more nail bars, shoe shops and coffee shops selling skinny lattes, then think again.
A study by Cambridge University says planning projects and urban regeneration schemes tend to cater to men better than women, despite the two living their lives differently.
Travel is one example. Studies show women make more complex journeys than men, dropping children off at school, going to work, getting the shopping before going home.
In contrast, men tend to just travel straight to work and back again.
Women are also more dependent on public transport, making 75% of bus journeys and only 30% have access to a car in the daytime.
Echoing complaints made in the past, the report by the university's centre for housing research says poor public transport and a lack of facilities such as schools and creches near workplaces restrict women's ability to choose where they work.
"There should be mixed developments where people are living, working, where there are schools, and shops close together," says Dr Gemma Burgess, who conducted the study.
"Women tend to worry about their safety at night more and want better lighting in public spaces. Others find pavements difficult for buggies," she said. "They are problems which affect us every day."
Lack of toilets
Dr Clara Greed, professor of inclusive urban planning at the University of the West of England, agreed that better street design would help to make women feel safer.
"Footpaths shouldn't be backed onto by high walls and fences. They shouldn't be designed so they create blind corners," she says.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
Cities: Women and minorities hardest hit.
Well every time I see that Benny Hill guy he's racing around, in one door and out the other and back again.
Although chanting "Get out of Palin's house" at the Cheneys as they pack doesn't seem as fun as the last time.
Guess who designs and builds towns? Guess who designs and makes refrigerators, washing machines, electric stoves? And the automobiles?
Men do. This dopey feminazi author should shut up
They all seem to be driving in the left lane, oblivious to traffic around them and taking their good old time. I say get the rest of them onto the bus.
Glad this was a private university study. Bad memories were starting to come back about the government spending millions on studying cow farts...
I don’t know about towns, but I know what malls (like the Mall of America outside the Twin Cities) are designed for: women and children. I’ve walked around that place a number of times looking for male oriented stores. Few and far between.
What’s a male oriented store?
Bass Pro.
Oh, for goodness sakes. When are these idiots going to get a real life and contribute instead of whine. Their whole paradigm stinks. I sometimes wonder if this was what it was like in the Roman days. I’m sure there had been an increase of incessant whining about useless issues while the morals and foundations of that time fell to “help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” levels of the barbarian invasions.
More: who invented the tampon? Earl Cleveland Haas, a man.
The Kegel exercise? Arnold Kegel.
The Pap smear? Dr. George Papanicolau
And what did Ernst von Grafenberg discover? Can you put your finger on it?
guns, gadgets, sporting equipment for example. When I go to a large mall, most of the stores I see are clothing, shoes, feminine fancies, you name it. Malls are designed for women.
It’s the UK. I’ll bet they are hogging the right lane, 10 mph under the speed limit, with their right turn signal on while travelling the motorway.
Don’t try to tell my girlfriend and daughters that. They love Cabela’s.
Ha! Thanks for the “clarification.” But you are correct, truth is truth the world over and human behavior never fails to disappoint.
Just because they like the same things we do, (lucky man), doesn’t mean the stores are not male oriented. ;^)
You can't make this stuff up.
Who is responsible for the advances in women’s health? Guys of course. Few women are inventors and innovators. There are a few...
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