Page 104 - IJPS-11-6

International Journal of
Population Studies Redesigning public spaces in South Africa

the research process and uphold the rights and dignity safety, and diversity in public spaces. Initiatives such as
of all participants. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Frauen-Werk-Stadt housing project integrate features
the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Ethics such as well-lit walkways, inclusive amenities, and areas
Committee of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, with designed for diverse activities. These measures address the
formal approval granted on March 24, 2024. This approval unique needs of women and girls while promoting broader
confirmed that the research protocol aligned with community engagement. Vienna’s policies reflect a strong
institutional and national guidelines governing responsible commitment to embedding inclusivity within formal
academic inquiry involving human subjects. urban planning processes, making it a valuable model for
South Africa.
To ensure ethical rigor throughout the study, several
key principles were carefully implemented. Informed The Tunisian case highlighted community-driven
consent was obtained from all participants after they were efforts to improve public space inclusivity despite limited
provided with comprehensive information regarding resources. Policy analysis revealed a focus on empowering
the study’s objectives, methodology, and their rights— local communities to transform underutilized areas
including the right to decline participation or withdraw at into vibrant public hubs. This bottom-up approach is
any stage. Consent forms were completed before interviews characterized by direct engagement with women and
and other data collection activities to document voluntary girls, ensuring their perspectives shape the design and
agreement. functionality of these spaces. Tunis’ policies underscore
the importance of leveraging community participation and
Confidentiality was rigorously maintained by cultural contexts to achieve meaningful improvements in
anonymizing participants’ identities and securing all data public space inclusivity.
in password-protected formats, accessible only to the
research team. Participation was entirely voluntary, with The comparative analysis revealed that while South
no form of coercion or obligation imposed on individuals Africa has made strides in policy development, there is a
or organizations. The research process was also designed to need for more integrated and gender-sensitive frameworks.
be culturally sensitive, with particular care taken to respect Drawing lessons from Vienna’s structured urban planning
the values, norms, and contexts of the diverse communities and Tunis’ grassroots initiatives, South Africa can adopt a
engaged, especially in South African urban settings. hybrid approach that combines formal policy interventions
with community-driven solutions. This dual focus offers
These ethical safeguards ensured that the research the potential to address barriers to inclusivity and create
was not only methodologically sound but also socially public spaces that are safe, accessible, and welcoming to all
responsible, reflecting a commitment to human rights, users, particularly women and girls.
transparency, and respect for all stakeholders involved in
the study. Table 1 presents the international case studies of
inclusive public spaces and the relevant variables.
3. Empirical findings
3.1.1. Vienna: The feminist city with a female face
3.1. Insights from international case studies: Vienna, often referred to as the “feminist city” or the “city
Lessons for inclusive design
with a female face,” has emerged as a global leader in gender-
This study was conducted in two stages, providing a sensitive urban planning and inclusive public space design.
comprehensive evaluation of approaches to inclusive This distinction is attributed to the city’s innovative policies
public space design. The first stage involved a detailed and practical implementations that prioritize inclusivity and
analysis of policies and frameworks implemented in equity. Vienna was selected as a case study for this research
international contexts, focusing on Vienna and Tunis. due to its exemplary integration of gender perspectives
These policies were then compared to South Africa’s into urban planning, providing valuable lessons for South
existing policies to evaluate their alignment with the goal African cities striving to improve their public spaces.
of enhancing inclusivity in public spaces. The second stage Central to Vienna’s success is the pioneering work
built upon this analysis by exploring specific initiatives in of urban designer Eva Kail, whose contributions have
these regions to identify practical strategies and lessons shaped the city’s approach to creating gender-inclusive
that could inform local applications.
public spaces. Kail’s advocacy for integrating gender
Vienna emerges as a pioneer in gender-sensitive mainstreaming into urban planning has set a global
urban planning, with policies emphasizing inclusivity standard, demonstrating how urban landscapes can
through data-driven approaches. The city has developed be designed to meet the diverse needs of all residents
and implemented frameworks that prioritize accessibility, (Kail, 2005). Gender mainstreaming in Vienna involves

Volume 11 Issue 6 (2025) 98 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.5813