A Reflection on the Women-Friendly City in Recreational Spaces with an Emphasis on the Right to the City Theory Approach (Example: Velayat Park Women's Park)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Urban Planning, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 PhD Graduate in Urban Planning, Kharazmi University; Lecturer, Department of Urban Planning, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Numerous studies in the field of urban planning and design show that women have more and closer relationships with urban environments than men in urban spaces and spend a lot of time outside the home. Therefore, women, as half of the users of urban spaces, should be able to use the spaces easily and feel comfortable, just like men, but studies show that women do not benefit from urban spaces in the same way as men. Among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, achieving gender equality and empowering women is central. Achieving this can lead to sustainable economies, peaceful societies, and overall sustainable development. Across the world, women’s participation in the workforce is gradually increasing. Future trends indicate that the world is moving towards a future with a feminine approach. Therefore, with this concept, the role and influence of women in societies will increase. The present study attempts to examine Velayat Park in District 19 of Tehran Municipality, which houses a wide range of women from various social groups and is an area specifically for women with diverse facilities and services, with an emphasis on the theory of the right to the city. In line with the above-mentioned material, the main research question is formulated as follows: What are the factors affecting a women-friendly city with the approach of the theory of the right to the city in recreational spaces?
Methodology: The present study is developmental research with a mixed method (quantitative-qualitative). In the qualitative part, the research indicators were extracted using the content analysis method, and these indicators were provided to organizational experts (30 people with higher education) in the form of a questionnaire. The results of the qualitative questionnaire were converted into a quantitative questionnaire, which was distributed among the population using the park and the residents of the neighborhood (the statistical population of the study was 100 people from the population using the park and the residents of the neighborhood, and the sample size in the quantitative section was determined using the Creighton Morgan table, and 80 people from the population using the park and the residents of the neighborhood were selected as the sample size). The research method in the qualitative part was conducted using a purposeful and judgmental method and in the quantitative part, using a simple random method. The right to the city is the legal right of every citizen to use the city and the space allocated to him, which causes the city to belong to the citizen and participate in urban affairs. According to Lefebvre's theories, it can be said that by using the cyclical rhythm, it is possible to restore justice to society and to intervene in daily life events with the participation of citizens. There have been numerous theories and research on the theories of the right to the city and gender justice, from which numerous components and indicators can be extracted.
Results: The construct validity method was used to measure the validity of the questionnaires. In this method, confirmatory factor analysis of the variables is measured using Lisrel software. Accordingly, if the significant coefficients presented in the diagram for each item are not between the numerical ranges of +1.96 and -1.96, it indicates the significance and confirmation of the construct validity of the questionnaire. The results of the first and second order confirmatory factor analysis show that the variability of a women-friendly city is significant. Considering the significant coefficients obtained from the number (1.96) are larger, the results indicate that the construct validity of the women-friendly city questionnaire is confirmed. Also, if the RMSEA is less than 0.1 and the statistics used for goodness of fit such as CFI, NFI, IFI, RFI, etc. are greater than 0.9, it can be concluded that the model has a good fit.
Discussion: Since the RMSEA is 0.069, which is less than 0.1, and the CFI, NFI, IFI, and RFI indices are greater than 0.9, it can be concluded that the model has a good fit and the items in this questionnaire are well capable of measuring a women-friendly city. Most cities in the world are designed by men for men, which has posed many security challenges and inequality for women; improving urban design can bring better conditions for women.
Conclusion: In the present study, the construct validity method was used to measure the validity of the questionnaires. In this method, using Lisrel software, confirmatory factor analysis of the variables indicated that they were meaningful and confirmed the construct validity of the questionnaires. Results. The results of the first and second order confirmatory factor analysis of the women-friendly city variable in Figures 4 and 5 showed significant coefficients of (1.96), which indicated that the construct validity of the women-friendly city questionnaire was confirmed. Considering the statistics used for goodness of fit such as CFI, NFI, IFI, RFI, etc. were greater than 0.9, it can be inferred that the model has a good fit. Since RMSEA is 0.069 (Table 4), which is less than 0.1, and the CFI, NFI, IFI, and RFI indices are greater than 0.9, it can be inferred that the model has a good fit and the items in this questionnaire are well capable of measuring women-friendly cities with a right-to-city approach.

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Main Subjects

References

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Urban Planning Knowledge
Volume 9, Issue 2
2025
Pages 102-118

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History

  • Receive Date: 25 January 2025
  • Revise Date: 05 March 2025
  • Accept Date: 30 April 2025

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