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While gender inequality issues exist throughout the world, the impact of this inequity is felt differently in developing or underdeveloped countries. Often, fundamental needs of daily life that can be taken for granted in first world countries comprise the daily struggles of life in third world nations.
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THE ROAD AHEAD
To reap the envisioned benefits of the proposed strategies, an unprecedented policy change is also required. However, the potential pitfalls of relying entirely on a government-driven or top down agenda are many. Nevertheless, this case example seeks to make a case for a stronger bottom-up planning approach for a place-making scheme. What began with GSAPP’s core team’s investigations, led to the understanding that the other end of the spectrum- a solely grass-root approach towards place-makingcan have its shortcomings in that its momentum cannot be truly recognised without the involvement of larger institutions, cities and governments. Placemaking occurs through a social process, and a ‘place’ is utilized to its highest potential when its creation is driven by its critical users. While the development paths of Hong Kong and/or Los Angeles indicate that top down infrastructure with overlays of recreation can create bustling public spaces, the example of Plaza Mexico is a shining case in point for peoplemade place-making. This reinforces the impact of urban scale interventions through community-led participation. Successful public spaces are not merely waterfronts, landscaped plazas and streets which turn into prime real estate or shopping and recreational paradises. Instead, the case example of Manyatta in Kisumu advocates the creation of successful social spaces that are, coincidentally, public in nature. While the idea of creating space through the movement of people is not new, the issue, more importantly, is about a ‘transformation of the public space’ and acknowledging the participatory nature of planning as a right of each citizen. As demonstrated in the case of Kisumu, the citizen’s right is reinforced through careful gender-oriented planning.
A process of place-making which is moulded, defined and structured by the users of the place and is encouraged, recognized and facilitated by the government can truly benefit the city instead of marginalizing its most vulnerable members. This method requires a wide stakeholder group to come together - one which consists of residents as bearers of knowledge about the community and trained professionals. Government involvement in Manyatta is key to the legal recognition that the residents of Manyatta seek. Conventionally, a top-down approach by the government may result in the voice of the citizens remaining unheard. However, with a series of checks and balances through a proposed gender inclusionary dialogue involving women’s collectives, landlords and the government, there is a potential to marry the better of two opposing approaches. Decentralization can be effective and last long only if it involves ALL players –the city government, investors and users of the space- essentially anyone who has anything to do with ‘Forming, Performing and Maintaining’ the area. Increasingly, women in third world countries, are becoming key contributors to activities of Production, Reproduction and Community management, and this strongly influences the outcome of planned and unplanned social and spatial changes. It is therefore important to look beyond conventional methods of planning which rely solely on the most “influential” members, be it investors, property owners, or governments as advocates of planning changes Understanding the way things are done and seen historically and traditionally is undeniably critical in ensuring the effectiveness of new changes. Else, the result can be chaotic where the smallest of changes can damage long standing social structures and produce a ramification which can take years to be
June 2016 | CITY OBSERVER
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