The Feminist Park Podcast – Un/Seen Spaces: Designing for Liberation!

Cooling the City: Thermal Justice as Mental Health EquitySeason 2 Episode: 5. May 26, 2026.Establishes thermal wellbeing as a mental health and climate justice issue, guiding our design of cooling infrastructure that protects the most vulnerable from extreme heat.Summary: Reframes urban heat as an intersectional crisis and warns that green infrastructure can trigger displacement (gentrification).Connection: Features native tree canopies, water features, and misting stations while advocating for tenant protections to prevent climate gentrification.Key Takeaways: • Extreme urban heat is a mental health hazard, not merely physical discomfort• Thermal comfort is fundamentally a matter of environmental justice• Climate adaptation without housing protection leads to climate gentrification• Vulnerable populations face compounded risks from heat and displacement• Inclusive cooling design is necessary for mental health resilience in warming cities• Participatory vulnerability assessments are essential for equitable climate adaptationKeywords: Urban design, mental health, microclimates, thermal wellbeing, urban heat.Keywords: Climate gentrification, urban heat, vulnerability index, Barcelona.Source: Co-Mapping Vulnerability to Climate Gentrification in the Context of Urban Heat: A Participatory Index, Amalia Calderón-Argelich et al.Source: Cityscapes, Climate, and Mental Health: Designing Cities for Thermal Wellbeing, Peter J. Crank and Paul CoseoThe Feminist Park is a pioneering intersectional feminist urban initiative that reimagines public green space through the lived experiences of women, migrants, LGBTQI+ people, and racialised communities. Rooted in care ethics, anti-racism, and queer theory, the project challenges the androcentric design of cities by co-creating inclusive, safe, and ecologically regenerative parks. By combining rigorous scientific research with grassroots feminist praxis, the Feminist Park advocates for the right to the city for all bodies,particularly those historically excluded from public space. Learn more and join the movement at www.feminist-park.org.

Beyond the Automobile: Reclaiming Streets for Well-BeingSeason 2 Episode: 4. May 19, 2026.Demonstrates how car-dependent urban design harms mental health and social connection, reinforcing our vision of car-free, pedestrian-centered green spaces.Summary: Challenges the assumption that car access improves well-being, showing that walkable, transit-rich neighborhoods report higher life satisfaction.Connection: Prioritizes pedestrian pathways and social infrastructure over cars, recognizing that car-centric design harms those who cannot or choose not to drive.Key Takeaways: • Car ownership negatively impacts subjective well-being, health, and social connection• Car-free urban transitions significantly improve mental health outcomes• People-centered transport planning enhances quality of life across multiple life domains• Automobile dependence creates social isolation and reduces community ties• Urban planning must prioritize pedestrian and cyclist needs over car infrastructureKeywords: Transport policy, quality of life, car ownership, well-being.Source: Transport and Quality of Life: The Car and Its Link to Subjective Well-Being, Health, and Life Domains, Kostas MouratidisThe Feminist Park is a pioneering intersectional feminist urban initiative that reimagines public green space through the lived experiences of women, migrants, LGBTQI+ people, and racialised communities. Rooted in care ethics, anti-racism, and queer theory, the project challenges the androcentric design of cities by co-creating inclusive, safe, and ecologically regenerative parks. By combining rigorous scientific research with grassroots feminist praxis, the Feminist Park advocates for the right to the city for all bodies,particularly those historically excluded from public space. Learn more and join the movement at www.feminist-park.org.

On Consent! Breaking the Chains: Dismantling Patriarchal Submission from WithinSeason 2 Episode:3. May 05, 2026.Exposes how patriarchal spaces enforce submission through limited choices, informing our design of parks that expand women's agency, autonomy, and freedom of movement.Summary: Based on Simone de Beauvoir’s framework, Manon Garcia critiques how society socializes women into submission by restricting meaningful choices.Connection: Challenges spatial submission by providing safe, well-lit spaces, menstrual-friendly facilities, and queer-affirming areas to create conditions for autonomy.Key Takeaways: • Submission is not innate but a socially enforced situation created through constrained choices• Women's submission is a rational adaptation to oppressive structural conditions• Consent must be continuous and relational, not merely a legal threshold• Dismantling submission requires addressing structural objectification and expanding meaningful options• True sexual liberation requires intersubjective recognition over adversarial models of sexSources: Sexual consent, ethics, autonomy, erotic conversation, gender power. The Joy of Consent: A Philosophy of Good Sex, Manon GarciaSubmission, patriarchy, existentialism, Simone de Beauvoir, objectification.We Are Not Born Submissive: How Patriarchy Shapes Women's Lives, Manon GarciaSubmission, patriarchy, existentialism, gender sociology. Critical Review/Companion Analysis of "We Are Not Born Submissive"The Feminist Park is a pioneering intersectional feminist urban initiative that reimagines public green space through the lived experiences of women, migrants, LGBTQI+ people, and racialised communities. Rooted in care ethics, anti-racism, and queer theory, the project challenges the androcentric design of cities by co-creating inclusive, safe, and ecologically regenerative parks. By combining rigorous scientific research with grassroots feminist praxis, the Feminist Park advocates for the right to the city for all bodies,particularly those historically excluded from public space. Learn more and join the movement at www.feminist-park.org.

Menstrual Justice in the City: Reclaiming Public Space for All BodiesSeason 2 Episode: 2. May 12, 2026. Exposes the menstrual exclusion built into urban infrastructure, driving our commitment to menstrual-friendly facilities as non-negotiable elements of gender-just public space.Summary: Establishes Critical Menstruation Studies as a lens for urban inequality, revealing how cities are designed for bodies that do not menstruate.Connection: Designs parks with comprehensive menstrual-friendly facilities, including private toilets, free products, and rest areas, treating menstruation as an environmental justice concern.Key Takeaways: • Menstrual health requires understanding subjective embodiment beyond product distribution• Urban sanitation infrastructure is fundamentally gender-inequitable• Lack of menstrual-friendly public toilets is a form of urban neglect and environmental injustice• Menstruation is a site of both oppression and resistance requiring intersectional approaches• Menstrual (im)mobility restricts women's access to public space and urban opportunities• Public spaces are often experienced as exclusionary by menstruating peoplePhenomenology, menstruation, public health, body in situation.Source:A contemporary phenomenology of menstruation: Understanding the body in situation and as situation, Lindsay Kelland, et al.Source: A contemporary phenomenology of menstruation: Understanding the body in situation and as situation, Lindsay Kelland, et al.Source: Exploring the availability and accessibility of menstrual friendly public toilets (MFPTs) in urban spaces: A global multi-city audit study, Angela-Maithy Nguyen et al.Source: When the basic seems like a luxury: Menstrual friendly public toilets in six cities by Sarah C. Blake et al.Source: The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Menstruation Studies, Chris Bobel, Inga T. Winkler, Breanne Fahs, et al.Source: Menstrual (Im)Mobilities and Safe Spaces, Anupriya Tuli, Shaan Chopra, Pushpendra Singh, and Neha KumarSource: Delving into menstrual experiences of women in the public space through mobile diaries, Pelin EfiltiSource: Experiences of menstrual inequity and menstrual health among women and people who menstruate in the Barcelona area (Spain), Anna Sofie Holst et al.The Feminist Park is a pioneering intersectional feminist urban initiative that reimagines public green space through the lived experiences of women, migrants, LGBTQI+ people, and racialised communities. Rooted in care ethics, anti-racism, and queer theory, the project challenges the androcentric design of cities by co-creating inclusive, safe, and ecologically regenerative parks. By combining rigorous scientific research with grassroots feminist praxis, the Feminist Park advocates for the right to the city for all bodies,particularly those historically excluded from public space. Learn more and join the movement at www.feminist-park.org.

The Body as Text: Black Queer Feminist Pedagogy in ActionSeason 2 Episode: 1. April 28, 2026.Centers Black queer feminist embodiment as essential knowledge, guiding our design of parks as living classrooms where marginalized bodies teach, resist, and transform public space.Summary: Theorizes how Black queer feminist instructors use their embodied existence as pedagogical equipment that challenges normative academic structures.Connection: Parks are designed as open-air classrooms centering Black, queer, and migrant bodies as knowledge producers through dance, storytelling, and gardening workshops.Key Takeaways: • The classroom presence of Black queer feminist instructors functions as "embodied text" that disrupts normative academic expectations• Embodied pedagogy transforms educational spaces into sites of resistance against institutional erasure• Identity enunciation carries significant labor, particularly for Black queer feminists navigating predominantly white institutions• The body itself becomes essential pedagogical equipment for teaching intersectionality and social justicePedagogy, embodiment, Black queer feminism, intersectionality, social justice.Body of Knowledge: Black Queer Feminist Pedagogy, Praxis, and Embodied Text by Mel Michelle LewisThe Feminist Park is a pioneering intersectional feminist urban initiative that reimagines public green space through the lived experiences of women, migrants, LGBTQI+ people, and racialised communities. Rooted in care ethics, anti-racism, and queer theory, the project challenges the androcentric design of cities by co-creating inclusive, safe, and ecologically regenerative parks. By combining rigorous scientific research with grassroots feminist praxis, the Feminist Park advocates for the right to the city for all bodies,particularly those historically excluded from public space. Learn more and join the movement at www.feminist-park.org.

Season 2 Episode0Reveals how censorship and cultural translation shape access to feminist knowledge globally, informing our commitment to creating multilingual, culturally responsive public spaces that honor diverse feminist traditions.Summary: This study examines the negotiations involved in translating Western feminist works like The Second Sex into Chinese contexts, showing how translators use strategic choices to navigate state control.Connection: The project adapts global feminist theory to local urban contexts, using multilingual signage and inclusive design to resist monolithic urban planning. Translation is a political act where prefaces and footnotes strategically navigate or subvert state control and patriarchal traditions• Western feminist texts face cultural and political negotiations when entering contexts like contemporary China• The framing of female body and sexual identity is deeply influenced by censorship and traditional gender norms• Para-translations serve as tools of resistance against both state censorship and patriarchal structuresTranslation studies, China, feminism, censorship, gender identity, sexuality.Author: Translating Feminism in China: Gender, sexuality and censorship, Zhongli YuThe Feminist Park is a pioneering intersectional feminist urban initiative that reimagines public green space through the lived experiences of women, migrants, LGBTQI+ people, and racialised communities. Rooted in care ethics, anti-racism, and queer theory, the project challenges the androcentric design of cities by co-creating inclusive, safe, and ecologically regenerative parks. By combining rigorous scientific research with grassroots feminist praxis, the Feminist Park advocates for the right to the city for all bodies,particularly those historically excluded from public space. Learn more and join the movement at www.feminist-park.org.Chinese summary:这期播客节目堪称女性主义翻译研究领域的里程碑式作品,深度剖析了西方女性主义经典文献如何在中国语境中经历文化转译、政治审查与性别重构的复杂过程。主持人Kwame和Leilani与余中丽教授的对话,围绕《第二性》和《阴道独白》两部标志性文本,揭示了翻译绝非中性的语言转换,而是一场充满权力博弈的政治行为。节目系统性地展现了男性译者如何在翻译过程中无意识地植入"男性凝视"——将波伏娃笔下少女胸部发育的主体性体验误译为"炫耀""卖弄"等带有展示性的词汇,将内在的身体感知扭曲为外部的审美评判;对比之下,女性译者采用"具身体验视角",选择"变得圆润""感到沮丧"等尊重主体性的表述,完整保留了原著的女性主义精神内核。节目还深入探讨了"女权主义"(Nüquán Zhǔyì)与"女性主义"(Nüxìng Zhǔyì)这两个中文术语背后的政治策略——前者因强调权力斗争而在后毛泽东时代遭遇社会抵触,后者则通过聚焦文化性别差异成功打开对话空间,这一术语之争折射出中国女性主义运动在国家女权主义遗产与新自由主义转型之间的艰难平衡。艾晓明教授对《阴道独白》的本土化改编策略更是翻译创造性的典范案例——将剧中缓解经痛的"红酒"替换为中国女性集体记忆中的"红糖水",这一看似微小的文化置换瞬间消解了文本的异域性,让中国观众从"她们的故事"进入"我们的故事",实现了情感真实性的跨文化传递。方言的巧妙运用——普通话代表现代都市精英、粤语象征商业开放、河南方言挑战乡村女性的刻板印象——在舞台上构建了一个阶层交错的女性欲望共同体,将性解放议题从城市中产阶级扩展至被边缘化的农村女性,这种社会评论维度甚至超越了英文原著。然而,节目也毫不回避翻译中的系统性删除与扭曲:《第二性》中关于女同性恋的完整章节在早期中译本中被整体删除,波伏娃将生理性别描述为"偶然确认"(un hasard)被男性译者恶意曲解为"不正当的嗜好",将存在主义的中性陈述病态化为道德审判;《阴道独白》中"阴道"(Yīndào)一词因官方审查无法出现在公共宣传中,演出被迫退守大学校园以"健康教育"或"实验艺术"的名义地下传播,形成了中国特有的"反性政策"与"开放性现实"之间的悖论景观——女性身体可以被商品化用于广告消费,却不能被政治化用于女性主义话语表达。节目引用男性译者陶铁柱的自白极具震撼力:"作为男性,我不清楚少女的心理,不知道她说的是否属实",这一坦诚揭示了翻译的认识论困境——当译者缺乏"被凝视""被物化""被规训"的具身经验时,其翻译本质上是基于想象而非共情的猜测行为,默认设置便会滑向父权制文化的主流叙事。这不仅是翻译伦理问题,更关乎知识生产的权力结构:在全球化信息流动中,译者作为文化"守门人"拥有决定哪些思想得以跨境传播、以何种形态呈现的隐形权力,他们是"花园的园丁,决定拔除哪些杂草、浇灌哪些花朵"。节目最终向听众发出行动召唤:阅读任何译作时都应审视译者的性别、翻译年代、所处的政治文化环境,警惕文本边缘处的"不可见空间"——那些被注释、前言、删节所掩盖的权力运作痕迹。对于关注以下议题的听众,这期节目是不可错过的学术资源与实践指南:女性主义理论的跨文化旅行、翻译研究中的性别政治、中国当代女权运动史、审查制度与文化生产、性少数群体的话语表征、身体叙事与政治抵抗、本土化翻译策略、多语种女性主义知识建构、城市公共空间的性别正义、交叉性理论在中国的应用、后社会主义语境下的性别政治、文化全球化与本土抵抗、知识分子行动主义与地下文化、语言人类学与权力分析。节目时长适中,叙事节奏张弛有度,既有理论深度又不乏生动案例,将艰深的学术议题转化为引人入胜的智识探险。强烈推荐给女性主义研究者、翻译学学者、性别研究学生、文化研究从业者、社会运动参与者、城市规划师、公共政策制定者、多语种内容创作者,以及所有希望理解"翻译如何重写世界"的思考者。这不仅是一期播客,更是一次关于语言、权力与解放的深刻启蒙。

Urban heat is not just a weather issue, it is a mental health and justice issue. This episode traces how urban design, materials, and the erasure of nature create hostile microclimates that raise stress, anxiety, and risk for mental disorders, much like past environmental hazards such as poor sanitation or flooding once did. Inspired by 19th‑century public health design, the authors argue that extreme heat must be reframed as a human‑magnified disaster, demanding deliberate, climate‑sensitive planning rather than being dismissed as “natural.” At the heart of the discussion is thermal well‑being: everyone’s right to restorative, comfortable, and safe thermal conditions in streets, parks, and homes.​Linking this to climate gentrification in Barcelona, the episode shows how heat‑adaptation measures—like new cool parks or climate shelters—can unintentionally fuel displacement when they raise property values and rental prices in already vulnerable neighbourhoods. Using a participatory vulnerability index, Calderón‑Argelich and colleagues reveal that those most exposed to heat often have the fewest resources to adapt, while officials and grassroots groups diverge on whether infrastructure or housing justice is the real solution. For the Feminist Park Project, these insights are central: the park must function as a cooling, climate‑resilient refuge that supports mental health, without triggering green or climate gentrification. This means centring marginalized residents in design and governance, treating thermal comfort as a feminist right to the city, and ensuring that any cooling benefits do not come at the cost of displacement.Article: "Cityscapes, Climate, and Mental Health: Designing Cities for Thermal Wellbeing"Authors: Peter J. Crank, Paul CoseoArticle: "Co-Mapping Vulnerability to Climate Gentrification in the Context of Urban Heat: A Participatory Index at the Metropolitan Scale" Authors: Amalia Calderón-Argelich, Isabelle Anguelovski, Eider Etxeberria, Lisa Hannuschke, Andréanne Chu Breton-Carbonneau, Antonio López-Gay, Galia Shokry, Emilia Oscilowicz, Josh Lown, Patrice C.Williams, Elena Lacort, Minerva CamposThe Feminist Park Project is a Berlin‑based feminist urbanism initiative that aims to create the world’s first intersectional feminist park—an experimental green space designed through the lenses of gender justice, environmental justice, and anti‑gentrification. Grounded in research on green gentrification, public health, and just ecofeminist cities, it responds to evidence that conventional parks and urban planning often exclude women, FLINTA*, BIPoC, queer communities, and low‑income residents, or even accelerate displacement when “greening” is not paired with housing and social protections. The Feminist Park Project is a research‑driven, storytelling‑rich experiment in feminist urbanism that asks a simple but radical question: what would it mean to build a park for those who would rather “choose the bear than the man” in public space—women, queer and trans people, migrants, racialized communities, and anyone whose very existence is political. Drawing on debates like the man vs bear thought experiment and books such as Feminist City: Claiming Space in a Man‑Made World, the project treats everyday urban issues and challenges—green gentrification in Barcelona districts, social injustice, urban squalor, transit inequities, and unsafe streets—as design problems that feminist spaces must confront, not reproduce. It works as a feminist spaces collective and living lab where engaged spaces, zine projects, podcasts, and community research explore feminist ethics, feminist capitalism, future feminism, and utopian feminist visions for ideal societies that center care over profit. From amplifying scholars like Leslie Kern, Caroline Criado Perez, Susanne Riegraf, and others, Feminist Park builds vital spaces that challenge patriarchy, reclaim public space, and prototype a feminist city where safety scenarios.

Description: This qualitative and interdisciplinary research offers a powerful feminist critique of public space design in Iran, with a specific focus on women-only parks developed post-1979 Islamic Revolution. We analyze how these spaces navigate, and often inadvertently perpetuate, gender segregation within an urban context.Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Offers a crucial comparative perspective on single-gender spaces, prompting reflection on how the Feminist Park can create inclusive environments that avoid perpetuating new forms of segregation while still addressing specific gendered needs.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: "Perpetuation of Patriarchy: A Feminist Critique on Public Space Design in Iran"Author: Ladan ZarabadiIntro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

Description: This paper investigates the nuanced relationship between urban green space interaction and the wellbeing of international students in Berlin during the initial COVID-19 lockdown. Employing a qualitative methodology, it offers a deep understanding of changes in daily routines and how green spaces became vital during an unprecedented time.Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Underscores the importance of green spaces for mental wellbeing, particularly for transient or vulnerable populations. It encourages the Feminist Park to consider the specific needs and uses of green spaces for diverse groups, including newcomers and those facing isolation.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: "Urban green space interaction and wellbeing – investigating the experience of international students in Berlin during the first COVID-19 lockdown"Author: Charlotte Collins, Dagmar HaaseIntro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

This episode examines the intriguing "paradox of greening" cities, asking whether such initiatives are truly socially inclusive for all residents. We dive into discussions on integrating green infrastructure and nature-based solutions within urban planning while critically considering the crucial element of social equity.Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Challenges the project to be critically self-aware of potential social inequalities, urging the Feminist Park to be designed and managed in a way that actively promotes social inclusion and benefits all community members, not just a privileged few.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: "The Paradox of Greening Cities: Social Inclusivity and Urban Green Infrastructure"Author: Dagmar Haase, Sigrun Kabisch, Annegret Haase, Erik Andersson, Ellen Banzhaf, Francesc Baró, Miriam Brenck, Leonie K. Fischer, Niki Frantzeskaki, Nadja Kabisch, Kerstin Krellenberg, Peleg Kremer, Jakub Kronenberg, Neele Larondelle, Juliane Mathey, Stephan Pauleit, Irene Ring, Dieter Rink, Nina Schwarz, Manuel WolffIntro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

This episode investigates environmental justice in Berlin through the lens of refugee children's access to urban green spaces. By assessing perceived neighborhood distance, we highlight the unique challenges in providing safe, usable, and accessible green spaces for this specific and often vulnerable socioeconomic group.Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Deepens the project's commitment to environmental justice and intersectionality. It emphasizes that the Feminist Park must be planned with the needs of the most vulnerable in mind, ensuring equitable access and safety for all children, regardless of background.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: "Environmental Justice in the Context of Access to Urban Green Spaces for Refugee Children in Berlin"Author: S.C. (Sara Colletti) and M.K. (Michael Kleyer)Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

Is urban greening always beneficial for everyone? This episode presents a critical longitudinal and spatial analysis of green gentrification in Barcelona, specifically focusing on historically disenfranchised neighborhoods. We uncover evidence of how green spaces, while beneficial, can inadvertently contribute to gentrification around parks in old industrialized areas and historic city centers.Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Warns against unintended consequences of green space development and stresses the importance of anti-gentrification strategies. It highlights the need for the Feminist Park to be designed and managed in a way that truly serves existing communities and avoids displacement.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: "Green gentrification in Barcelona: A longitudinal and spatial analysis"Author: Isabelle Anguelovski, James J. T. Connolly, Laia Masip, Hamil PearsallIntro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

Join us as we journey to the Barcelona Metropolitan Region to explore a study that defines, measures, and maps ecosystem services (ES) in an urban context. This episode outlines the quantification and mapping methods for various ES indicators, including crucial elements like crop and livestock production within the urban fabric.Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Provides a framework for understanding and valuing the ecological services a Feminist Park can offer, highlighting its role not just as a social space but also as a vital ecological contributor to a sustainable urban environment.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: "Mapping ecosystem services in the Barcelona Metropolitan Region: From supply and demand to bundles"Author: F. Baró, D. Geneletti, P. J. O'Farrell, A. ValdecantosBook/Paper: Green justice or just green? Provision of urban green spaces in Berlin, GermanyAuthor: Nadja Kabischa, Dagmar HaaseaIntro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

In this empowering episode, we break down why feminism isn’t a threat to masculinity but the ultimate way for men to level up—boosting confidence, relationships, and purpose. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory and research by Moser, Siegel & Wiley, we explore how men can integrate feminist values into their identity and live freely with autonomy, belonging, and competence. Listen to real strategies from pro-feminist leaders on becoming allies, challenging patriarchy, and embracing positive masculinity as a path to personal and collective transformation. This episode is a must for any man curious about unlocking his full potential while advancing gender equity.Disclaimer: The role of men in feminism is a complex and ongoing conversation that evolves alongside efforts to dismantle patriarchy. This episode explores important facets of this topic but does not capture its full scope. Listeners are encouraged to share their insights on aspects that might have been overlooked or deserve deeper attention in future episodes. Suggestions for alternative framings or perspectives that could enrich the dialogue are also warmly welcomed, fostering a collective journey toward shared understanding and transformative change.Article/Book: Journal of Psychology of Men & Masculinities "Men in Feminism: A Self-Determination Perspective and Goals for the Future" Author: Charlotte E. Moser, Jaclyn A. Siegel, Shaun Wiley 

This episode offers concrete insights into the principles and successful implementation of gender-sensitive park design. Through the lens of specific examples like Einsiedlerpark and St. Johann Park, we learn how practical design choices can create more equitable and welcoming public green spaces.Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Provides practical, real-world examples and inspiration for the Feminist Park's design and implementation, showcasing how gender-sensitive principles can be successfully applied to create truly inclusive urban parks.Source for Podcast Episode:Site: "Gender-sensitive park design at Einsiedlerpark and St. Johann Park" https://use.metropolis.org/case-studies/gender-sensitive-park-design (28-10-2025)Author: City Government, otherAuthor:Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

What makes an urban park truly effective and beloved? This episode delves into the statistical analysis used to determine common factors in assessing the design principles of urban parks. We'll outline the optimal models and key coefficients that contribute to successful park design, from aesthetic appeal to functionality.Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Provides technical insights into what makes urban parks successful from a design perspective, offering evidence-based criteria to ensure the Feminist Park is optimally designed for its community.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: "Excerpt on Assessing Design Principles of Urban Parks"Author: Mehraneh Rayatidamavandi, Mohsen FaiziBook/Paper:  What Would a Non-Sexist City Be Like? Speculations on Housing, Urban Design, and Human WorkAuthor: : Dolores Hayden Source: Signs, Vol. 5, No. 3, Supplement. Women and the American City (Spring, 1980), pp. S170-S187 Published by: The University of Chicago PressIntro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

This episode focuses on the critical importance of accessible, inclusive, and well-designed public spaces for overall safety and functionality, with a sharp focus on gender equality in planning and management. We discuss a proposed dashboard with indicators and a satisfaction survey – vital tools to promote and measure true gender equality in urban environments.Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Provides practical tools and metrics for the Feminist Park to assess its impact on gender equality, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement in creating truly inclusive and functional public spaces.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: "Gender equality in urban planning and management: A dashboard with indicators and a satisfaction survey"Author: Ariane Pereira, Emília Malcata RebeloBook/Paper: SAFER PARKS Improving access for women and girlsThis document has been prepared by Keep Britain Tidy, Make Space for Girls, the University of Leeds and West and Yorkshire Combined Authority. WHAT MAKES A PARK FEEL SAFE OR UNSAFE? The views of women, girls and professionals in West YorkshireAuthors: A research project led by Dr Anna Barker and Professor George Holmes (University of Leeds) with Dr Rizwana Alam, Lauren Cape-Davenhill, Dr Sally Osei-Appiah and Dr Sibylla Warrington Brown, in collaboration with West Yorkshire Combined Authority.Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

This week’s episode pays heartfelt tribute to the loving memory of Jane Goodall by exploring themes from the seminal book The Ten Trusts, co-authored by Goodall and Marc Bekoff. We delve into humanity’s profound connection with the animal kingdom, emphasizing shared emotions and cognitive abilities to foster empathy among all beings. This conversation aligns deeply with the Feminist Park’s vision of inclusive, caring public spaces rooted in intersectional justice and empathy for all life. The episode encourages compassionate stewardship of our planet and respectful coexistence with all creatures.Disclaimer:Listener discretion is advised. The podcast references real examples of animal cruelty to underline the urgent need for greater animal consciousness and ethical change. Please engage with this episode responsibly and consider your own emotional comfort before listening.

This episode delves into nuanced gendered experiences within urban spaces, exploring concepts such as the control of disorder and women's interactions in the metropolis. Drawing on various scholarly works, we illustrate how urban life is intricately shaped by gender, fear, and complex social dynamics.Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Provides a deeper understanding of the gendered nuances of urban life that the Feminist Park aims to address, informing design choices that actively mitigate feelings of disorder and enhance positive interactions for women and gender-diverse people.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: "WOMEN, GIRLS AND GENDER DIVERSE PEOPLE SAFETY IN PUBLIC SPACE. DESIGNING A CITY FOR ALL LONDONERS"Author: Dr Mimi ShellerIntro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

Man or bear? How gender affects experiences of natural environments with varying levels of vegetation density and different danger threats" by Bornioli & Gatersleben (2025) provides crucial empirical evidence about gendered experiences of safety in natural settings. The authors, Anna Bornioli and Birgitta Gatersleben, conducted three experiments with adults from Southeast England, inspired by the viral 2024 "Man or bear?" social media debate that highlighted women's preference for encountering a bear over an unknown man in the woods.Their research demonstrates that women experience significantly higher levels of fear and perceived risk in natural environments compared to men, particularly in dense vegetation settings and when social threats are present. The study reveals that social dangers—primarily the threat of harassment or assault by men—emerge as the primary barrier preventing women from fully enjoying and engaging with natural spaces. This research is foundational to our feminist park project as it provides concrete evidence for why traditional park design often fails women and highlights the urgent need for safety-centered, gender-responsive green space planning.

An often-overlooked necessity, public toilets reveal much about a city's inclusivity. This episode traces their complex historical development and outlines key concerns identified in scientific literature. We highlight the profound social, economic, and functional importance of these public spaces, often a barometer of urban equity.Episode 14 of The Feminist Park Podcast is here. We're flushing out the hidden history of public toilets and exposing how they are a barometer of urban equity. Drawing on the work of C. Greed, Shawna Lewkowitz, Jason Gilliland, and Judith Plaskow, we reveal the profound social and economic costs when cities fail to provide this basic amenity.A truly feminist city must consider every detail. This episode proves that the path to liberation includes a safe, clean, and accessible public bathroom.Emphasizes that true feminist urban planning extends to every detail, including essential amenities. The Feminist Park must ensure thoughtfully designed, safe, and accessible public toilets that cater to all users, reflecting a holistic approach to public space.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: No Place to Go: The History and the Future of Public ToiletsAuthor: Clara GreedBook/Paper: A Feminist Critical Analysis of Public Toilets and Gender: A Systematic ReviewAuthors: Shawna Lewkowitz & Jason Gilliland Book/Paper: Taking a Break: Toilets, Gender, and Disgust Author: Judith Plaskow Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay#PublicHealth #UrbanDesign #Feminism #SocialJustice #UrbanPlanning #DEI #Inclusivity #PublicToilets #FeministCityStatement:We want to be absolutely clear: The Feminist Park Project and Podcast stand in full solidarity with the trans community.Public toilets are not just a matter of infrastructure—they are about dignity, safety, and belonging. Too often, debates about access erase or endanger trans and gender-diverse people. We reject any framing of public space that treats their needs as secondary or “special interests.” There is no neutral built environment; the so-called “standard” has historically centered cisgender men, leaving women, trans, and non-binary people excluded.We believe that every person deserves safe, accessible, and affirming public facilities. That means designing toilets and green spaces with inclusivity at the core, not as an afterthought. Trans rights are human rights, and trans-inclusive toilets are non-negotiable for a just and equitable city.This project exists to challenge exclusion in urban design, and we reaffirm our commitment: our vision of feminist space is always trans-inclusive.

This powerful episode delves into the profound experiences of women in cities, examining how gender shapes urban insecurities and perpetuates social inequality in urban areas. Drawing on rich empirical findings, we illustrate varying experiences of fear, safety, and the essential 'rights to the city' that women claim and deserve.Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Provides foundational context for the Feminist Park's existence, highlighting the systemic insecurities women face and underscoring the park's role as a space that upholds and enables women's fundamental right to the city.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: "Why Women in Cities Matter: From Urban Insecurity to Rights to the City" (Chapter in The Routledge Handbook of Gender and Development)Author: Linda Peake and Geraldine PrattIntro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from PixabayClarification of "SlutWalk" discussed in this episode:The "SlutWalk" is identified in the sources as a significant social movement and event, primarily focused on addressing gender-based violence and women's rights within urban contexts, often with transnational implications. Here's a breakdown of what the sources indicate about SlutWalks:• Purpose and Focus: SlutWalks were organised to protest sexual assault and victim-blaming. They aimed to address gendered violence and call for an end to state apathy towards violence against women. These events are also linked to discussions and legislative changes designed to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Canadians from discrimination.• Origins and Spread: The first SlutWalk in 2011 took place in Brussels another sources tates that the first SlutWalk was organised in Toronto to protest gendered violence. Regardless of the exact first location, in 2011, there were companion SlutWalks in 40 countries across the Global North and South, indicating its rapid international spread.• Key Events and Examples:  The Vancouver SlutWalk involved participants marching to protest sexual assault and victim-blaming. This event included the use of gender-neutral washrooms in the public gallery and a proclamation to end state apathy towards violence against women. The Edmonton SlutWalk in 2011 is depicted in an image (Figure 17.6 of the source).• Legislative Impact: Discussions surrounding "SlutWalks" and "bathroom bills" were broadly associated with the amendment of the Canadian Human Rights Act. This Act was amended to include gender identity or expression as prohibited grounds for discrimination, with a second reading passing in May 2016.• Feminist Movement and Critiques: The SlutWalk movement is described as an effective instance of transnational feminism [previous conversation, referencing Carr, L.L. (2015) in 18]. However, the "SlutWalk blueprint" has been critiqued for reinforcing white privilege, especially given its historical context. Canada, for instance, has argued that the movement reinforces white privilege.In essence, SlutWalks emerged as a prominent international social movement addressing gender-based violence, advocating for women's rights, and contributing to broader discussions around gender identity and discrimination in public spaces.

This episode takes a spin on urban mobility, detailing a qualitative study designed to understand factors contributing to potential bike riders' behaviors and, specifically, how to increase women's participation in cycling. We delve into behavior change analysis to identify key levers for a more equitable two-wheeled city.Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Encourages consideration of active transport links to the Feminist Park, understanding behavioral barriers for women in cycling and how supportive infrastructure can make the park more accessible and integrated into daily feminist commutes.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: What a girl wants: A mixed-methods study of gender differences in the barriers to and enablers of riding a bike in Australia Authors: Lauren Pearson a,*, Sandy Reeder a, Belinda Gabbe a,b, Ben Beck a School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Australia b Health Data Research UK, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, United KingdomIntro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

Have you ever considered how deeply gender shapes your commute? This episode explores the often-overlooked link between transport and the urban environment, illustrating how urban mobility experiences can fundamentally differ for women and men. We highlight why historical analyses of "gendering the city" have too often overlooked the critical role of transport.Relates to The Feminist Park Project: While the project focuses on parks, understanding gendered transport illuminates how access to public spaces is itself gendered, emphasizing the need for accessible and safely connected Feminist Parks within the broader urban fabric.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: "If I Walked on my Own at Night I Stuck to Well Lit Areas.” Gendered spaces and urban transport in 20th century Britain"Author: Barbara Schmucki Department of History, Institute of Railway Studies & Transport History, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

This episode dives into cutting-edge research on how urban design influences feelings of safety, particularly for women and gender-diverse individuals. We unpack a systematic review of literature, exploring gender differences in safety perception, the generalisability of findings, and key policy implications for creating truly secure public spaces.Directly informs the practical design principles of the Feminist Park, emphasizing evidence-based approaches to enhance safety, reduce fear, and promote inclusivity for all users.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: "Public space and gendered safety perceptions: A systematic review of design interventions and their impacts"Author: Pablo Navarrete-Hernandez, Arielle Vetro, Paz ConchaIntro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

This episode argues for an engaged anthropological approach to public space, showing how it can powerfully uncover hidden systems of exclusion that often remain invisible through other methodologies. We delve into the concept of space as a critical theoretical construct, highlighting its profound role in shaping and reflecting diversity.Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Provides a methodological and theoretical foundation for how the Feminist Park can continuously audit and improve its inclusivity, ensuring that no subtle systems of exclusion exist within its design or use.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: "Public Space and Diversity"Author: Setha M. LowIntro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

This episode offers a comprehensive overview of urban studies, covering diverse theoretical and disciplinary perspectives on cities. We explore cities as complex environments, dynamic economies, and intricate polities, highlighting the multifaceted nature of urban phenomena from various academic lenses.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: Handbook of Urban StudiesAuthor: Ronan Paddison (editor)Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from PixabaySurvey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPNuY_i2epAT8Y2RQgLa6aXW31ZdwOBpLK4RameIgqpncqMg/viewform

 Join us as we explore the captivating intersection of feminism and utopianism, drawing on rich historical and theoretical perspectives on American feminist thought. This episode delves into the concept of ideal societies as envisioned through a feminist lens, challenging existing norms and imagining radical futures.The Feminist Park Project: Connects the practical design of the Feminist Park to a broader tradition of feminist utopian thought, positioning the park as a tangible step towards realizing more equitable and just societal ideals within an urban context.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: "Excerpt on Feminism and Utopianism"Author: Johns, Alessa . In The Cambridge Companion to Utopian Literature , edited by Claeys, Gregory, 174-199.Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

"Lefebvre’s foundational work on the social production of space adds that “space is never empty: it always embodies a meaning” (1991:154) [...] space is never transparent but, rather, must be queried through an analysis of spatial representations, spatial practices, and spaces of representation[...] "This episode champions an engaged anthropology approach to public space, demonstrating how a spatial perspective can powerfully uncover hidden or naturalized systems of exclusion. Through compelling case studies from Hispano-American public squares, urban markets, and private housing developments, we reveal how space shapes social dynamics.The Feminist Park Project provides a critical framework for identifying and dismantling systems of exclusion within the Feminist Park's design and operation, ensuring it truly serves as an inclusive public space where all feel a sense of belonging and agency.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: "Claiming Space: Engaging Anthropology of Public Space"Author: Setha M. LowIntro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from PixabayPlease fill in our survey and share your experience: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPNuY_i2epAT8Y2RQgLa6aXW31ZdwOBpLK4RameIgqpncqMg/viewform

This episode provides an introduction to significant research fields within feminist critique of capitalism. We explore profound topics such as capitalism as a system of domination and the subordination of life, alongside crucial discussions on care work, social work, and the intersection of ecofeminism with economic structures.The Feminist Park Project: Offers a broader theoretical lens, positioning the Feminist Park as not just a physical space but a response to systemic inequalities rooted in capitalist structures, promoting alternative models of care, community, and ecological harmony.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: "Feministische Kapitalismuskritik: Eine Einführung"Author: Brigitte Aulenbacher, Birgit Riegraf, Susanne VölkerIntro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

This episode brings together a collection of fresh, creative student papers offering insightful feminist analyses of various urban spaces. From suburbs and streets to parks and shopping centers in the post-modern Canadian city, we gain new perspectives on the deeply gendered nature of our built environments. Inspires diverse ways of thinking about urban spaces and empowers listeners to apply a feminist lens to their own surroundings, informing how the Feminist Park can serve as a model for critical engagement with urban design.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: "Feminist Analyses of Urban Spaces"Author: Mary Ann Beavis (editor) Source: https://core.ac.uk/reader/144470430Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

Based on a groundbreaking book, this episode explores how women navigate and claim space in cities often designed with male experiences predominantly in mind. We delve into profound themes of freedom, fear, and the intricate politics of gender embedded within our urban environments. Leslie Kern provides foundational insights from a leading voice in feminist urbanism, directly inspiring the Feminist Park's mission to challenge existing urban norms and create spaces where women and marginalized genders can truly claim their freedom and presence.The City as a Constant ConversationThe city isn't a finished product; it's a dynamic, contested space in a constant state of becoming. It's a living dialogue where every street, bench, and building is a part of a larger conversation about who belongs and who doesn't. This constant remaking is a demand for something better, a call for us to actively shape our communities.Reading Your City with a Feminist LensHow can you participate in this conversation? Start by looking at your surroundings through a feminist lens. Ask yourself:Who is this street designed for?Whose body fits comfortably on this park bench or can easily navigate this transit stop?Whose needs are met, and whose are ignored and made invisible?The Power of Quiet ResistanceAnd as you look for what is missing, also look for the acts of quiet resistance and care already happening around you. The neighbors sharing childcare, the vibrant community gardens, the people looking out for one another. These actions may seem small, but they are powerful. They challenge the dominant narrative and build something different—a more just and caring world, one relationship at a time.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: Feminist City: Claiming Space in a Man-Made WorldAuthor: Leslie KernIntro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

How do urban green spaces impact mental well-being, and does gender play a role? This episode explores a systematic review investigating how gender and sex are addressed in the literature concerning urban greenness and its mental health benefits. We examine whether urban green spaces disproportionately impact the mental well-being of women and females compared to men and males.Provides crucial insights for designing the Feminist Park to maximize mental health benefits, with a specific focus on ensuring these benefits are equitably distributed and particularly impactful for women and females.Source for Podcast Episode:Book/Paper: "Gender and sex in urban greenness and mental health: A systematic review"Author: Marta-Beatriz Fernández Núñez, Lia Campos Suzman, Roser Maneja, Albert Bach, Oriol Marquet, Isabelle Anguelovski, Pablo KnobelIntro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

In this insightful episode of The Feminist Park Podcast, Kwame and Leilani delve into the profound concept that "if you have to shout to be heard, you are heard as shouting," exposing the pervasive "male default" bias in a world not designed for women. Drawing from Caroline Criado Perez's "Invisible Women," they uncover how this inherent bias renders women's experiences invisible across data, design, language, and public policy – from snow-clearing priorities that disadvantage women's travel patterns, to public toilets reflecting a male-only reality. They dissect the backlash faced when women assert their presence, often dismissed as "identity politics" or met with hostility, illustrating how efforts to be seen are often misconstrued as overreaching. Kwame's analytical lens uncovers the systemic roots of this injustice and its economic inefficiency, while Leilani’s empathetic perspective highlights the real-world harm and inadequate urban spaces that result. Together, they connect these findings directly to The Feminist Park Project's vital mission: to intentionally build public spaces that truly see, hear, and cater to all genders, ensuring justice and genuine inclusion in our urban environments.Setting the Stage – The Invisible Problem & Perceptions.Episode Title: "The Data Gap: Unpacking Invisible Experiences in Urban Design"Why: This episode will begin by highlighting how women's perspectives and needs have historically been overlooked in data collection and urban planning, forming the foundational understanding for the entire podcast series.Source for Podcast Episode:The source for this podcast episode is:Book: Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for MenAuthor: Caroline Criado PerezIntro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay