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 Sheller
  • Intro/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 Toilets

• Author: Clara Greed

• Book/Paper: A Feminist Critical Analysis of Public Toilets and Gender: A Systematic Review

• Authors: 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 #FeministCity

Statement:

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 Pratt

• Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay

Clarification 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 Kingdom

• Intro/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 Concha

  
  

  Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay