Feminist City

Leslie Kern, Feminist City, Verso 2019

I was disappointed that Leslie Kern fails to resolve the problems she raises in this detailed description of the way in which cities are built to meet the needs of white able-bodied men, rather than the wider population that inhabits them. The way in which the problems are laid out provides so much of the information needed for readers to consider a range of possible changes to begin finding solutions. But is this enough?

In her preface, Kern suggests that the Covid pandemic has publicised the role of care workers, and that the caring professions’ requirements of their cities need to be addressed. This is an excellent way of giving the topic immediacy. The introduction is less accessible and direct in its outlining some theories underlying the need for a feminist city and reference to the categories of people Kern believes are discriminated against by the current design of cities. Attention is given to women, and the various groups that are embodied by that description, acknowledging the possibility that white middleclass women may have agendas that impact on categories often subsumed under the category, women.

The chapters cover topics under headings such as City of Men; Who Writes the City?; City of Friends; City of One; City of Protest; City of Fear; City of Possibility. Within these topics there are subtopics, including those covering mothers in the city, personal space, and particular groups’ lack of safety. Some chapters deal with personal experience, others draw upon popular culture or political activism.

The writer’s experience of city planning and public transport as a pregnant woman, despite the notices designating some seats for that purpose as well as those with a disability, or are elderly, resonate. The difficulties with public transport, including the lack of elevators at railway stations, for people with prams are easily understood, and can be translated into those experienced by people in wheelchairs, who are elderly, ill or carrying heavy and unwieldy parcels.

Her discussion of the way in which some women’s gains may discriminate against other women raise important issues. Two areas where this occurs is in relation to gentrification and the possibility that white middle class women’s gains may discriminate against other women, and the problems faced by transgender women. These concerns may not sit well with some readers. Middle class women may feel sympathy with Kern’s concern with other groups of women but react negatively to the idea that our gains are others’ loss. Some descriptions, such as ‘cis women’ may offend some; others will be satisfied that the debates about transgender have been recognised and settled by this author. Whatever the position a reader adopts, the book does not fail on Kern’s interpretation of feminism and transgender. The most simple statement, that we cannot adopt change without considering its impact, underpins much of the discussion.

While Kern eloquently lays the problems bare, with enough material and examples to draw readers into easy recognition of the way in which cities do not provide for all their inhabitants, she was unable to develop a solid range of suggestions to deal with the problems. There was little recognition that solutions can only be found through community commitment to public spending as well as new design options arising from involving a wider range of people in city planning. I was excited by the topic of this book, and perhaps it is that which made me want so much more.