Glasgow becomes feminist city - 12th December 2022

Glasgow city council has decided to become the UK's first "feminist" city. The Scottish council says it's going to change its approach to city planning. It will put women first, as well as minority groups such as people of colour, wheelchair users and also people who are non-binary.

Historically, men have designed towns and cities to suit their needs and preferences. Staying safe and making places easy to reach are issues which probably aren't considered.

The idea was brought to Glasgow's council meeting by Holly Bruce, a member of the Green party. She felt that women and others have diverse needs. According to her, these needs aren't discussed at present.

The question of what a feminist city looks like is an important one and now, Glasgow council needs more information about this too. It's asking city residents to recommend changes that they'd like.

Some ideas have been suggested already. For example, adding better lighting in parks could help people feel safer. However, at the same time, Bruce also wants to protect wildlife in the city's parks.

A feminist city is one where you can easily get around on foot or by bike. Cycle paths and green spaces in general are considered necessary. Larger pavements, car-free zones and user-friendly public toilets are necessary for walkers, baby buggies and wheelchairs. It's important to put pedestrians first, particularly as buying and running a car is too expensive for many city residents.

As Councillor Bruce explained, "These factors aren't only important for women." They're for building "a healthier, more liveable city for all".