Urban heat is not just a weather issue, it is a mental health and justice issue. This episode traces how urban design, materials, and the erasure of nature create hostile microclimates that raise stress, anxiety, and risk for mental disorders, much like past environmental hazards such as poor sanitation or flooding once did. Inspired by 19th‑century public health design, the authors argue that extreme heat must be reframed as a human‑magnified disaster, demanding deliberate, climate‑sensitive planning rather than being dismissed as “natural.” At the heart of the discussion is thermal well‑being: everyone’s right to restorative, comfortable, and safe thermal conditions in streets, parks, and homes.
Linking this to climate gentrification in Barcelona, the episode shows how heat‑adaptation measures—like new cool parks or climate shelters—can unintentionally fuel displacement when they raise property values and rental prices in already vulnerable neighbourhoods. Using a participatory vulnerability index, Calderón‑Argelich and colleagues reveal that those most exposed to heat often have the fewest resources to adapt, while officials and grassroots groups diverge on whether infrastructure or housing justice is the real solution. For the Feminist Park Project, these insights are central: the park must function as a cooling, climate‑resilient refuge that supports mental health, without triggering green or climate gentrification. This means centring marginalized residents in design and governance, treating thermal comfort as a feminist right to the city, and ensuring that any cooling benefits do not come at the cost of displacement.
Article: "Cityscapes, Climate, and Mental Health: Designing Cities for Thermal Wellbeing"
Authors: Peter J. Crank, Paul Coseo
Article: "Co-Mapping Vulnerability to Climate Gentrification in the Context of Urban Heat: A Participatory Index at the Metropolitan Scale"
Authors: Amalia Calderón-Argelich, Isabelle Anguelovski, Eider Etxeberria, Lisa Hannuschke, Andréanne Chu Breton-Carbonneau, Antonio López-Gay, Galia Shokry, Emilia Oscilowicz, Josh Lown, Patrice C.Williams, Elena Lacort, Minerva Campos
The Feminist Park Project is a Berlin‑based feminist urbanism initiative that aims to create the world’s first intersectional feminist park—an experimental green space designed through the lenses of gender justice, environmental justice, and anti‑gentrification. Grounded in research on green gentrification, public health, and just ecofeminist cities, it responds to evidence that conventional parks and urban planning often exclude women, FLINTA*, BIPoC, queer communities, and low‑income residents, or even accelerate displacement when “greening” is not paired with housing and social protections.
The Feminist Park Project is a research‑driven, storytelling‑rich experiment in feminist urbanism that asks a simple but radical question: what would it mean to build a park for those who would rather “choose the bear than the man” in public space—women, queer and trans people, migrants, racialized communities, and anyone whose very existence is political. Drawing on debates like the man vs bear thought experiment and books such as Feminist City: Claiming Space in a Man‑Made World, the project treats everyday urban issues and challenges—green gentrification in Barcelona districts, social injustice, urban squalor, transit inequities, and unsafe streets—as design problems that feminist spaces must confront, not reproduce. It works as a feminist spaces collective and living lab where engaged spaces, zine projects, podcasts, and community research explore feminist ethics, feminist capitalism, future feminism, and utopian feminist visions for ideal societies that center care over profit. From amplifying scholars like Leslie Kern, Caroline Criado Perez, Susanne Riegraf, and others, Feminist Park builds vital spaces that challenge patriarchy, reclaim public space, and prototype a feminist city where safety scenarios.
Description: This qualitative and interdisciplinary research offers a powerful feminist critique of public space design in Iran, with a specific focus on women-only parks developed post-1979 Islamic Revolution. We analyze how these spaces navigate, and often inadvertently perpetuate, gender segregation within an urban context.
Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Offers a crucial comparative perspective on single-gender spaces, prompting reflection on how the Feminist Park can create inclusive environments that avoid perpetuating new forms of segregation while still addressing specific gendered needs.
Source for Podcast Episode:
Description: This paper investigates the nuanced relationship between urban green space interaction and the wellbeing of international students in Berlin during the initial COVID-19 lockdown. Employing a qualitative methodology, it offers a deep understanding of changes in daily routines and how green spaces became vital during an unprecedented time.
Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Underscores the importance of green spaces for mental wellbeing, particularly for transient or vulnerable populations. It encourages the Feminist Park to consider the specific needs and uses of green spaces for diverse groups, including newcomers and those facing isolation.
Source for Podcast Episode:
Book/Paper: "Urban green space interaction and wellbeing – investigating the experience of international students in Berlin during the first COVID-19 lockdown"
Author: Charlotte Collins, Dagmar Haase
Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay
This episode examines the intriguing "paradox of greening" cities, asking whether such initiatives are truly socially inclusive for all residents. We dive into discussions on integrating green infrastructure and nature-based solutions within urban planning while critically considering the crucial element of social equity.
Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Challenges the project to be critically self-aware of potential social inequalities, urging the Feminist Park to be designed and managed in a way that actively promotes social inclusion and benefits all community members, not just a privileged few.
Source for Podcast Episode:
Book/Paper: "The Paradox of Greening Cities: Social Inclusivity and Urban Green Infrastructure"
Author: Dagmar Haase, Sigrun Kabisch, Annegret Haase, Erik Andersson, Ellen Banzhaf, Francesc Baró, Miriam Brenck, Leonie K. Fischer, Niki Frantzeskaki, Nadja Kabisch, Kerstin Krellenberg, Peleg Kremer, Jakub Kronenberg, Neele Larondelle, Juliane Mathey, Stephan Pauleit, Irene Ring, Dieter Rink, Nina Schwarz, Manuel Wolff
Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay
This episode investigates environmental justice in Berlin through the lens of refugee children's access to urban green spaces. By assessing perceived neighborhood distance, we highlight the unique challenges in providing safe, usable, and accessible green spaces for this specific and often vulnerable socioeconomic group.
Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Deepens the project's commitment to environmental justice and intersectionality. It emphasizes that the Feminist Park must be planned with the needs of the most vulnerable in mind, ensuring equitable access and safety for all children, regardless of background.
Source for Podcast Episode:
Book/Paper: "Environmental Justice in the Context of Access to Urban Green Spaces for Refugee Children in Berlin"
Author: S.C. (Sara Colletti) and M.K. (Michael Kleyer)
Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay
Is urban greening always beneficial for everyone? This episode presents a critical longitudinal and spatial analysis of green gentrification in Barcelona, specifically focusing on historically disenfranchised neighborhoods. We uncover evidence of how green spaces, while beneficial, can inadvertently contribute to gentrification around parks in old industrialized areas and historic city centers.
Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Warns against unintended consequences of green space development and stresses the importance of anti-gentrification strategies. It highlights the need for the Feminist Park to be designed and managed in a way that truly serves existing communities and avoids displacement.
Source for Podcast Episode:
Book/Paper: "Green gentrification in Barcelona: A longitudinal and spatial analysis"
Author: Isabelle Anguelovski, James J. T. Connolly, Laia Masip, Hamil Pearsall
Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay
Join us as we journey to the Barcelona Metropolitan Region to explore a study that defines, measures, and maps ecosystem services (ES) in an urban context. This episode outlines the quantification and mapping methods for various ES indicators, including crucial elements like crop and livestock production within the urban fabric.
Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Provides a framework for understanding and valuing the ecological services a Feminist Park can offer, highlighting its role not just as a social space but also as a vital ecological contributor to a sustainable urban environment.
Source for Podcast Episode:
Book/Paper: "Mapping ecosystem services in the Barcelona Metropolitan Region: From supply and demand to bundles"
Author: F. Baró, D. Geneletti, P. J. O'Farrell, A. Valdecantos
Book/Paper: Green justice or just green? Provision of urban green spaces in Berlin, Germany
Author: Nadja Kabischa, Dagmar Haasea
Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay
In this empowering episode, we break down why feminism isn’t a threat to masculinity but the ultimate way for men to level up—boosting confidence, relationships, and purpose. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory and research by Moser, Siegel & Wiley, we explore how men can integrate feminist values into their identity and live freely with autonomy, belonging, and competence. Listen to real strategies from pro-feminist leaders on becoming allies, challenging patriarchy, and embracing positive masculinity as a path to personal and collective transformation. This episode is a must for any man curious about unlocking his full potential while advancing gender equity.
Disclaimer: The role of men in feminism is a complex and ongoing conversation that evolves alongside efforts to dismantle patriarchy. This episode explores important facets of this topic but does not capture its full scope. Listeners are encouraged to share their insights on aspects that might have been overlooked or deserve deeper attention in future episodes. Suggestions for alternative framings or perspectives that could enrich the dialogue are also warmly welcomed, fostering a collective journey toward shared understanding and transformative change.
Article/Book: Journal of Psychology of Men & Masculinities "Men in Feminism: A Self-Determination Perspective and Goals for the Future"
Author: Charlotte E. Moser, Jaclyn A. Siegel, Shaun Wiley
This episode offers concrete insights into the principles and successful implementation of gender-sensitive park design. Through the lens of specific examples like Einsiedlerpark and St. Johann Park, we learn how practical design choices can create more equitable and welcoming public green spaces.
Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Provides practical, real-world examples and inspiration for the Feminist Park's design and implementation, showcasing how gender-sensitive principles can be successfully applied to create truly inclusive urban parks.
Source for Podcast Episode:
Site: "Gender-sensitive park design at Einsiedlerpark and St. Johann Park" https://use.metropolis.org/case-studies/gender-sensitive-park-design (28-10-2025)
Author: City Government, other
Author:Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay
What makes an urban park truly effective and beloved? This episode delves into the statistical analysis used to determine common factors in assessing the design principles of urban parks. We'll outline the optimal models and key coefficients that contribute to successful park design, from aesthetic appeal to functionality.
Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Provides technical insights into what makes urban parks successful from a design perspective, offering evidence-based criteria to ensure the Feminist Park is optimally designed for its community.
Source for Podcast Episode:
Book/Paper: "Excerpt on Assessing Design Principles of Urban Parks"
Author: Mehraneh Rayatidamavandi, Mohsen Faizi
Book/Paper: What Would a Non-Sexist City Be Like? Speculations on Housing, Urban Design, and Human Work
Author: : Dolores Hayden Source: Signs, Vol. 5, No. 3, Supplement. Women and the American City (Spring, 1980), pp. S170-S187 Published by: The University of Chicago Press
Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay
This episode focuses on the critical importance of accessible, inclusive, and well-designed public spaces for overall safety and functionality, with a sharp focus on gender equality in planning and management. We discuss a proposed dashboard with indicators and a satisfaction survey – vital tools to promote and measure true gender equality in urban environments.
Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Provides practical tools and metrics for the Feminist Park to assess its impact on gender equality, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement in creating truly inclusive and functional public spaces.
Source for Podcast Episode:
Book/Paper: "Gender equality in urban planning and management: A dashboard with indicators and a satisfaction survey"
Author: Ariane Pereira, Emília Malcata Rebelo
Book/Paper: SAFER PARKS Improving access for women and girls
This document has been prepared by Keep Britain Tidy, Make Space for Girls, the University of Leeds and West and Yorkshire Combined Authority.
WHAT MAKES A PARK FEEL SAFE OR UNSAFE? The views of women, girls and professionals in West Yorkshire
Authors: A research project led by Dr Anna Barker and Professor George Holmes (University of Leeds) with Dr Rizwana Alam, Lauren Cape-Davenhill, Dr Sally Osei-Appiah and Dr Sibylla Warrington Brown, in collaboration with West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay
This week’s episode pays heartfelt tribute to the loving memory of Jane Goodall by exploring themes from the seminal book The Ten Trusts, co-authored by Goodall and Marc Bekoff. We delve into humanity’s profound connection with the animal kingdom, emphasizing shared emotions and cognitive abilities to foster empathy among all beings. This conversation aligns deeply with the Feminist Park’s vision of inclusive, caring public spaces rooted in intersectional justice and empathy for all life. The episode encourages compassionate stewardship of our planet and respectful coexistence with all creatures.
Disclaimer:
Listener discretion is advised. The podcast references real examples of animal cruelty to underline the urgent need for greater animal consciousness and ethical change. Please engage with this episode responsibly and consider your own emotional comfort before listening.
This episode delves into nuanced gendered experiences within urban spaces, exploring concepts such as the control of disorder and women's interactions in the metropolis. Drawing on various scholarly works, we illustrate how urban life is intricately shaped by gender, fear, and complex social dynamics.
Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Provides a deeper understanding of the gendered nuances of urban life that the Feminist Park aims to address, informing design choices that actively mitigate feelings of disorder and enhance positive interactions for women and gender-diverse people.
Source for Podcast Episode:
Man or bear? How gender affects experiences of natural environments with varying levels of vegetation density and different danger threats" by Bornioli & Gatersleben (2025) provides crucial empirical evidence about gendered experiences of safety in natural settings. The authors, Anna Bornioli and Birgitta Gatersleben, conducted three experiments with adults from Southeast England, inspired by the viral 2024 "Man or bear?" social media debate that highlighted women's preference for encountering a bear over an unknown man in the woods.
Their research demonstrates that women experience significantly higher levels of fear and perceived risk in natural environments compared to men, particularly in dense vegetation settings and when social threats are present. The study reveals that social dangers—primarily the threat of harassment or assault by men—emerge as the primary barrier preventing women from fully enjoying and engaging with natural spaces. This research is foundational to our feminist park project as it provides concrete evidence for why traditional park design often fails women and highlights the urgent need for safety-centered, gender-responsive green space planning.
An often-overlooked necessity, public toilets reveal much about a city's inclusivity. This episode traces their complex historical development and outlines key concerns identified in scientific literature. We highlight the profound social, economic, and functional importance of these public spaces, often a barometer of urban equity.
Episode 14 of The Feminist Park Podcast is here. We're flushing out the hidden history of public toilets and exposing how they are a barometer of urban equity. Drawing on the work of Clara Greed, Shawna Lewkowitz, Jason Gilliland, and Judith Plaskow, we reveal the profound social and economic costs when cities fail to provide this basic amenity.
A truly feminist city must consider every detail. This episode proves that the path to liberation includes a safe, clean, and accessible public bathroom.
Emphasizes that true feminist urban planning extends to every detail, including essential amenities. The Feminist Park must ensure thoughtfully designed, safe, and accessible public toilets that cater to all users, reflecting a holistic approach to public space.
Source for Podcast Episode:
Book/Paper: No Place to Go: The History and the Future of Public Toilets
Author: Clara Greed
Book/Paper: A Feminist Critical Analysis of Public Toilets and Gender: A Systematic Review
Authors: Shawna Lewkowitz & Jason Gilliland
Book/Paper: Taking a Break: Toilets, Gender, and Disgust
Author: Judith Plaskow
Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay
#PublicHealth #UrbanDesign #Feminism #SocialJustice #UrbanPlanning #DEI #Inclusivity #PublicToilets #FeministCity
This powerful episode delves into the profound experiences of women in cities, examining how gender shapes urban insecurities and perpetuates social inequality in urban areas. Drawing on rich empirical findings, we illustrate varying experiences of fear, safety, and the essential 'rights to the city' that women claim and deserve.
Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Provides foundational context for the Feminist Park's existence, highlighting the systemic insecurities women face and underscoring the park's role as a space that upholds and enables women's fundamental right to the city.
Source for Podcast Episode:
Book/Paper: "Why Women in Cities Matter: From Urban Insecurity to Rights to the City" (Chapter in The Routledge Handbook of Gender and Development)
Author: Linda Peake and Geraldine PrattIntro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay
This episode takes a spin on urban mobility, detailing a qualitative study designed to understand factors contributing to potential bike riders' behaviors and, specifically, how to increase women's participation in cycling. We delve into behavior change analysis to identify key levers for a more equitable two-wheeled city.
Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Encourages consideration of active transport links to the Feminist Park, understanding behavioral barriers for women in cycling and how supportive infrastructure can make the park more accessible and integrated into daily feminist commutes.
Source for Podcast Episode:
Book/Paper: What a girl wants: A mixed-methods study of gender differences in the barriers to and enablers of riding a bike in Australia
Authors: Lauren Pearson a,*, Sandy Reeder a, Belinda Gabbe a,b, Ben Beck a School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Australia b Health Data Research UK, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, United Kingdom
Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay
Have you ever considered how deeply gender shapes your commute? This episode explores the often-overlooked link between transport and the urban environment, illustrating how urban mobility experiences can fundamentally differ for women and men. We highlight why historical analyses of "gendering the city" have too often overlooked the critical role of transport.
Relates to The Feminist Park Project: While the project focuses on parks, understanding gendered transport illuminates how access to public spaces is itself gendered, emphasizing the need for accessible and safely connected Feminist Parks within the broader urban fabric.
Source for Podcast Episode:
Book/Paper: "If I Walked on my Own at Night I Stuck to Well Lit Areas.” Gendered spaces and urban transport in 20th century Britain"
Author: Barbara Schmucki Department of History, Institute of Railway Studies & Transport History, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay
This episode dives into cutting-edge research on how urban design influences feelings of safety, particularly for women and gender-diverse individuals. We unpack a systematic review of literature, exploring gender differences in safety perception, the generalisability of findings, and key policy implications for creating truly secure public spaces.
Directly informs the practical design principles of the Feminist Park, emphasizing evidence-based approaches to enhance safety, reduce fear, and promote inclusivity for all users.
Source for Podcast Episode:
Book/Paper: "Public space and gendered safety perceptions: A systematic review of design interventions and their impacts"
Author: Pablo Navarrete-Hernandez, Arielle Vetro, Paz Concha
Intro/Outro Music: big-band-tv-show-logo-164230 Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay
This episode argues for an engaged anthropological approach to public space, showing how it can powerfully uncover hidden systems of exclusion that often remain invisible through other methodologies. We delve into the concept of space as a critical theoretical construct, highlighting its profound role in shaping and reflecting diversity.
Relates to The Feminist Park Project: Provides a methodological and theoretical foundation for how the Feminist Park can continuously audit and improve its inclusivity, ensuring that no subtle systems of exclusion exist within its design or use.
Source for Podcast Episode: