Gendered mobilities? Engaging the transport academy in repairing a traditional neglect Professor...

Gendered mobilities? Gendered mobilities? Engaging the Engaging the

transport academy in transport academy in repairing a repairing a

traditional neglecttraditional neglectProfessor Margaret Grieco, D. Phil. (Oxon.), Professor Margaret Grieco, D. Phil. (Oxon.),

Professor of Transport and Society, Transport Professor of Transport and Society, Transport Research Institute, Napier University and Research Institute, Napier University and

Salaried Visiting Full Professor, Institute for Salaried Visiting Full Professor, Institute for African Development, Cornell UniversityAfrican Development, Cornell University

Email: Email: [email protected]@napier.ac.uk

Cosmobilities, BasleCosmobilities, BasleSeptember 2007September 2007

Repairing a traditional Repairing a traditional neglectneglect

• The history of gendered transport The history of gendered transport provision, patterns and decision is clearly a provision, patterns and decision is clearly a very long one: technical precision, research very long one: technical precision, research and funding for research around this and funding for research around this history has been weak and the need for history has been weak and the need for such precision, research and funding has such precision, research and funding has been at best vigorously contested with the been at best vigorously contested with the ‘scientific’ community being either ‘scientific’ community being either committed to or content with doing committed to or content with doing business in the old fashioned, male business in the old fashioned, male preferenced way. preferenced way.


• This keynote presentation is the outcome This keynote presentation is the outcome of an awareness of the many but highly of an awareness of the many but highly fragmented and fragmenting attempts fragmented and fragmenting attempts made to develop a technical appreciation made to develop a technical appreciation of the gendered nature of travel and of the gendered nature of travel and transport and the road blocks which such transport and the road blocks which such attempts meet in gaining their full place attempts meet in gaining their full place in the existing scientific literature and in in the existing scientific literature and in the development of a cumulative scientific the development of a cumulative scientific specialism of gender and transport.specialism of gender and transport.


• Despite attempts by agencies such as the World Bank at Despite attempts by agencies such as the World Bank at one time to give gender and transport proper professional one time to give gender and transport proper professional place, the transport academy has largely failed to move place, the transport academy has largely failed to move with the albeit momentary momentum of international with the albeit momentary momentum of international institutions to address the gendered character of travel institutions to address the gendered character of travel and transport. and transport.

• The failure to address travel and transport has clear and The failure to address travel and transport has clear and visible consequences, we would argue, for women’s health, visible consequences, we would argue, for women’s health, wealth and welfare. wealth and welfare.

• In the developing world, most particularly in Africa, In the developing world, most particularly in Africa, maternal mortality is increasing and the social maternal mortality is increasing and the social organisation of transport can be seen to play an important organisation of transport can be seen to play an important part in this very pernicious social pattern. part in this very pernicious social pattern.

• In Western societies, women’s travel difficulties in the In Western societies, women’s travel difficulties in the context of their household and childcare responsibilities context of their household and childcare responsibilities generate travel stress, poorer employment opportunities generate travel stress, poorer employment opportunities and inadequate access to health care for their own welfare.and inadequate access to health care for their own welfare.


• This keynote is given in the hope that a This keynote is given in the hope that a focus on ‘cosmobilities’, and indeed on focus on ‘cosmobilities’, and indeed on ‘mobilities’, will increasingly be a ‘mobilities’, will increasingly be a gendered appreciation of travel and that gendered appreciation of travel and that the development of this social scientific the development of this social scientific literature and emphasis will place literature and emphasis will place increasing pressure on the transport increasing pressure on the transport academy to adjust, correct and rectify academy to adjust, correct and rectify the all too apparent existing deficiencies the all too apparent existing deficiencies in its treatment of travel and transport.in its treatment of travel and transport.


IIdentifying the obstaclesdentifying the obstacles• Institutional history and legacy has Institutional history and legacy has

considerable consequence for change. The considerable consequence for change. The current shape of the transport profession current shape of the transport profession remains skewed towards male authority, remains skewed towards male authority, position, presence and opportunities. As an position, presence and opportunities. As an outcome, the female gender deficit in the outcome, the female gender deficit in the transport profession is highly visible and transport profession is highly visible and with the benefits of modern information with the benefits of modern information communication technologies measureable communication technologies measureable and auditable. and auditable.


• At the edges, there are strategies of At the edges, there are strategies of mentoring women and in the United mentoring women and in the United States there is some evidence of States there is some evidence of women moving into leadership women moving into leadership positions in transport but these positions in transport but these changes do not of themselves changes do not of themselves guarantee a focus on gender and guarantee a focus on gender and transport. transport.


• A simple analysis of the game logics A simple analysis of the game logics of the current transport academy of the current transport academy would quickly reveal the strength of would quickly reveal the strength of the pressures to conform away from the pressures to conform away from gendered analysis.gendered analysis.


Gaps, maps and mishapsGaps, maps and mishaps• The funding for measuring the gender gaps in both the transport The funding for measuring the gender gaps in both the transport

profession and transport organisation and services has been poor. profession and transport organisation and services has been poor. Neverthless, there are now sufficient fragments of evidence and Neverthless, there are now sufficient fragments of evidence and research of this universal situation to make the claim at a scientific research of this universal situation to make the claim at a scientific level that the systematic mapping of the gendered character of level that the systematic mapping of the gendered character of transport provision is long overdue.transport provision is long overdue.

• Despite the involvement of the international institutions in the Despite the involvement of the international institutions in the gender and transport thematic arena, the on-line comprehensive gender and transport thematic arena, the on-line comprehensive international data bases of the gendered character of travel and international data bases of the gendered character of travel and transport are still missing and not even under consideration or transport are still missing and not even under consideration or construction. The mapping of the evidence is quite simply missingconstruction. The mapping of the evidence is quite simply missing

• The focus on projects rather than larger programs and gender and The focus on projects rather than larger programs and gender and transport portfolios has served to fragment the evidence and as transport portfolios has served to fragment the evidence and as project personnel turn over so to does the evidence and project personnel turn over so to does the evidence and commitment to the construction of a proper scientific basis for commitment to the construction of a proper scientific basis for gendered transport development planning. This is a major mishap.gendered transport development planning. This is a major mishap.


Best practice, poor patterningBest practice, poor patterning• There have been many projects with best practices in There have been many projects with best practices in

respect of gender and transport. But best practices are respect of gender and transport. But best practices are not replicated, their results fail to find the authoritative not replicated, their results fail to find the authoritative publication venues they require in order to get publication venues they require in order to get professional attention and the decisionmakers and funders professional attention and the decisionmakers and funders remain ignorant of their existence and local successes.remain ignorant of their existence and local successes.

• Best practices do not convert into mainstream patterning Best practices do not convert into mainstream patterning without marketing and without the support of champions without marketing and without the support of champions who already possess authority. Heidelberg’s consultation who already possess authority. Heidelberg’s consultation of women in the design of civic facilities remains an of women in the design of civic facilities remains an isolated practice; Jauk’s study of the prospects for the isolated practice; Jauk’s study of the prospects for the gender governance of transport does not get its deserved gender governance of transport does not get its deserved airing; the World Bank’s previous focus on gender and airing; the World Bank’s previous focus on gender and transport results in a preliminary transport strategy transport results in a preliminary transport strategy document in 2006 which does not even have gender as a document in 2006 which does not even have gender as a sub heading.sub heading.


• Best practice has given way to poor patterning Best practice has given way to poor patterning repeatedly: understandings achieved through high repeatedly: understandings achieved through high quality research are lost through their position of quality research are lost through their position of marginality in literatures which are traditionally marginality in literatures which are traditionally skewed to ignore the social aspects of transport in skewed to ignore the social aspects of transport in their search for engineering or economic purity. their search for engineering or economic purity.

• The social patterning of transport is as important The social patterning of transport is as important as the physical patterning of terrain and the cost as the physical patterning of terrain and the cost contours of economy. Best engineering practice contours of economy. Best engineering practice and best economic practice must take account of and best economic practice must take account of social patterning: not to do so is to lose technical social patterning: not to do so is to lose technical proficiency no matter what the historical pattern proficiency no matter what the historical pattern of the profession permitted or allowed as a of the profession permitted or allowed as a practice.practice.


New tools, lost chancesNew tools, lost chances• The advent of new information communication The advent of new information communication

technologies opens up opportunities for the readier technologies opens up opportunities for the readier measurement of social dimensions and outcomes of measurement of social dimensions and outcomes of social processes. Not collecting and organising data social processes. Not collecting and organising data with regard to gender makes little sense. Having with regard to gender makes little sense. Having data organised in this fashion, permits the better data organised in this fashion, permits the better customisation of transport services and customisation of transport services and infrastructure to meet the needs of the different infrastructure to meet the needs of the different segments of the market and community identified segments of the market and community identified through this process.through this process.

• However, the collection of gender segregated data, However, the collection of gender segregated data, the use of gender audits and the use of gender the use of gender audits and the use of gender responsive budgets in transport are not mainstream responsive budgets in transport are not mainstream practices. The failure to use such tools represents a practices. The failure to use such tools represents a major loss of chances for change.major loss of chances for change.


• The new information communication The new information communication technologies may yet play a role in the technologies may yet play a role in the organising of communities and of women within organising of communities and of women within communities to pressure transport authorities communities to pressure transport authorities and governments for better transport and governments for better transport arrangements for women. The technology arrangements for women. The technology certainly enables decision makers to more certainly enables decision makers to more readily consult with the citizenry. As of yet, we readily consult with the citizenry. As of yet, we have not seen either transport professionals, have not seen either transport professionals, transport operators or political decisionmakers transport operators or political decisionmakers make the most of these newly available tools in make the most of these newly available tools in better integrating gender into transport.better integrating gender into transport.


• Shaping a fieldShaping a field• There are sources of support for the shaping of a field: the There are sources of support for the shaping of a field: the

admirable John Whitelegg answered a call from Gatnet, the gender admirable John Whitelegg answered a call from Gatnet, the gender and transport network, for publication space and has created the and transport network, for publication space and has created the opportunity for a set of special issues on gender and transport to be opportunity for a set of special issues on gender and transport to be published. published.

• The Technical University of Braunschweig has competed for and The Technical University of Braunschweig has competed for and obtained resources to develop the field of gender and transport and obtained resources to develop the field of gender and transport and continues to make an important contribution in this way. continues to make an important contribution in this way.

• The Department of Sociology at the University of Copenhagen The Department of Sociology at the University of Copenhagen obtained EU funding (TRANSGEN) to map the gender gap in obtained EU funding (TRANSGEN) to map the gender gap in transport. transport.

• The Ashgate Transport and Society series is publishing a volume The Ashgate Transport and Society series is publishing a volume edited by Tanu Priya and Tim Cresswell on Gendered mobilities edited by Tanu Priya and Tim Cresswell on Gendered mobilities which looks set to provide a benchmark for this field. which looks set to provide a benchmark for this field.

• A major meeting was recently held in South Africa on gender and A major meeting was recently held in South Africa on gender and transport and the long term pioneers in this area, Professor Kerry transport and the long term pioneers in this area, Professor Kerry Hamilton and Professor Sandra Rosenbloom, continue their work Hamilton and Professor Sandra Rosenbloom, continue their work in the field involving a range of institutions through their in the field involving a range of institutions through their innovativeness and energy. innovativeness and energy.


• But still the story looks like this - the executive team But still the story looks like this - the executive team seeking to gain the contract for the UK national transport seeking to gain the contract for the UK national transport centre (and they are the last team standing) see no reason centre (and they are the last team standing) see no reason to involve women in their leadership team (women after all to involve women in their leadership team (women after all are only one of six categories of the socially excluded), are only one of six categories of the socially excluded),

• The proposal for the centre is deficient in respect of the The proposal for the centre is deficient in respect of the development of a gender program that will meet women’s development of a gender program that will meet women’s needs in Britain (or even identify them) and there appears needs in Britain (or even identify them) and there appears to be no major funding on any horizon to change the to be no major funding on any horizon to change the pattern or compensate for the scientific damage done. pattern or compensate for the scientific damage done.

• A European program of research dedicated to gender and A European program of research dedicated to gender and transport is long overdue – the institutions have all paid lip transport is long overdue – the institutions have all paid lip service to the need to meet the gender burden but in fact service to the need to meet the gender burden but in fact little has changed and the professional neglect a long way little has changed and the professional neglect a long way away from repair.away from repair.

• I have some thoughts on how we might move forward: they I have some thoughts on how we might move forward: they involve auditing and dedicated funding from the involve auditing and dedicated funding from the institutions concerned with transport governance. institutions concerned with transport governance.


• They involve a more honest scientific assessment They involve a more honest scientific assessment of how we arrived in such a skewed position of how we arrived in such a skewed position where this is the substance of my keynote and a where this is the substance of my keynote and a willingness to correct past damage by willingness to correct past damage by professionals. And they involve a new level of professionals. And they involve a new level of attention to the end user and the involvement of attention to the end user and the involvement of participation and feedback in processes which participation and feedback in processes which historically have gone sadly awry when left in historically have gone sadly awry when left in the hands of the professionals and profiting.the hands of the professionals and profiting.

• I thank you for your attention and hope for your I thank you for your attention and hope for your support in changing the shape of the field.support in changing the shape of the field.


References to follow up:References to follow up:• CATHARINA PURWANI WILLIAMS (2005) CATHARINA PURWANI WILLIAMS (2005)

'Knowing one's place': gender, mobility and 'Knowing one's place': gender, mobility and shifting subjectivity in Eastern Indonesia shifting subjectivity in Eastern Indonesia Global Networks 5 (4), 401–417. Global Networks 5 (4), 401–417. doi:10.1111/j.1471-0374.2005.00126.x doi:10.1111/j.1471-0374.2005.00126.x

• http://www.sociology.ku.dk/koordinationen/http://www.sociology.ku.dk/koordinationen/transgen/documents/Brussels/tanu_priya_uteng.pdftransgen/documents/Brussels/tanu_priya_uteng.pdf

• http://www.sociology.ku.dk/koordinationen/http://www.sociology.ku.dk/koordinationen/transgen/workshop/presentations/transgen/workshop/presentations/

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