Enhancing women’s mobility and safety in cities is a long-standing concern in the ongoing fight for gender equality. Previous research has covered topics such as commuter safety in public transportation, prevention of sexual harassment, and the outsized effects of unsafe neighborhoods on women’s livelihoods. However, women deserve equality in their access to cities beyond simply safety and utility concerns. Current literature neglects how women access cities for leisure. Recreation is critical for productivity, creativity and quality of life, and yet is often overlooked.

Together with an all-female team from academia, Kontinentalist and digital social media enterprise Chambal Media, I investigated how perceptions of safety affect how women and LGBTQ persons access cities for leisure using qualitative coding techniques. We mapped the creative initiatives of female-led grassroots groups and safe spaces in taking ownership of their leisure experiences despite often having little say in the urban design process. Through surveys, interviews, focus group discussions and life logging, we created a story plus social media campaign celebrating how women and LGBTQ persons are actively creating a world they can move through with ease, despite negligent and hostile environments.