> but why treat people differently because of their gender? Can't we just treat everyone the same?
This is one of those well-intentioned questions that makes a lot of hidden assumptions. Since straight white men founded this country, wrote the laws, and hold a disproportionate number of positions as presidents, congressmen, CEOs, etc, this means that the directive to "treat everyone the same" in practice becomes "treat everyone like a straight white man"
Men and women and non-binary folks have different needs and are oppressed to varying degrees. Trying to treat them all the same ignore these important differences. This post discusses how conventional city planning of treating everyone the same is less effective than bringing those differences to the forefront: http://www.citylab.com/commute/2013/09/how-design-city-women...
> This is one of those well-intentioned questions that makes a lot of hidden assumptions. Since straight white men founded this country, wrote the laws, and hold a disproportionate number of positions as presidents, congressmen, CEOs, etc, this means that the directive to "treat everyone the same" in practice becomes "treat everyone like a straight white man"
I am sorry, but the last part just doesn't make any sense. First of, I am probably not from the same country as you are and treating everyone according to the golden rule doesn't mean treating everyone like a straight white man. You are accusing me of making assumptions when the irony is that you are making the assumptions.
I don't really believe that cities generally are being designed for any specific gender and I do not believe any gender is being oppressed in my country. But at last, I don't see how this is relevant at all for this discussion, I was simply talking about treating everyone the same and for sure if you can make data supported general statements about specific needs for men or women go ahead and design a better city.
This is one of those well-intentioned questions that makes a lot of hidden assumptions. Since straight white men founded this country, wrote the laws, and hold a disproportionate number of positions as presidents, congressmen, CEOs, etc, this means that the directive to "treat everyone the same" in practice becomes "treat everyone like a straight white man"
Men and women and non-binary folks have different needs and are oppressed to varying degrees. Trying to treat them all the same ignore these important differences. This post discusses how conventional city planning of treating everyone the same is less effective than bringing those differences to the forefront: http://www.citylab.com/commute/2013/09/how-design-city-women...