Cultivating the Gender Equal City in Umeå

Hello and welcome to local voices for sustainability the eclair. Europe podcast, I'm your host Laura Schubert, each episode, we explore the sustainability Transformations. Taking place in Our member cities across Europe today, in our second episode, we're headed north to a City 400 kilometers south of the Arctic Circle.

It's bustling with young people and has a rich Musical and literary community. T. It was the European capital of culture in 2014 and is an important destination for research on Life Sciences, ecology social welfare and gender. I'm talking about the Swedish city of umeå In this episode, we'll dive into an important but lesser discussed aspect of sustainable, Urban Development gender.

What role does it play? And what impact Can it have? When city planners take gender equality into account? Also, if you're interested in the connection between nature, and our physical, and mental health than this episode is for you, all this and more coming, right? Up I'm here with Linda Gustafson gender equality officer for the city of umeå in Sweden. Linda has been involved in both National and international projects where she has provided her expertise on topics relating to gender equality and education. One of those projects is called go green Roots which focuses on the health and well-being impacts of nature based Solutions in European cities.

Namely Lottie Tolland, Versailles Limerick Burgas and of Course umeå Lumia has been an equally member City since 2015 and an equal. Europe is a participating partner in The gogreen Roots project. Additionally, Linda is a part of the umeå city council's, gender, equality committee and is the Trailblazer behind the gendered landscape method, which draws together, ideas relating, to power, dynamics privilege, citizen participation and more with the goal of furthering, sustainable Urban Development, indeed it's all tied together and I'm sure she's going to tell us how in our For Sation to come, Linda are delighted to have you. Welcome to the show.

Thank you so much, very nice to be here. So let's begin with you telling us a little bit about you and your job. What is a gender equality officer? Well, I work for the city I function as an expert for all the Departments of the city. So supporting them in their work with gender equality and working towards the goal that has been set by the city council of Emil.

And the goal is that women and men should have equal power to shape society as well as their own lives. So all the departments in the city, are to work with that. And then I'm also involved as you mentioned in a number of different projects, both National and international projects, highlighting the importance of working with gender equality as part of sustainable Urban Development.

And we have also for the last three years been intramural the lead partner of an airbag Finance project called gendered landscape, working with gender equality, in European cities, with an holistic understanding and at the same time tailor-made, And so, a lot of our work is based on the method of the gendered landscape, which is about understanding the context that you're in. So, so understanding if you work for a city, like, what is the structure of this city?

Where do people work, how do they travel? How much money do they have looking at the data that you have, the service that you make and based on that trying to sort of figure out what is the most important gender inequality issue that we need to focus? Focus on mmm but also seeing that so infusing and understanding of power structures into any question we believe that it also leads to more projects or work get more efficient because we focus on groups where change is needed. Hopefully we focus on the right things and we can sort of understand just the life conditions of the city in a better way, if we work actively with gender equality. Mmm.

Okay, thanks for starting us off. I think that sets a good tone for the rest of our conversation and that leads me to my second question, which is that many listeners of the show are familiar with the usual suspects or components of sustainable development. So we hear about natural resources, renewable energy, agriculture water, but what about gender equality?

How does gender equality fit into the sustainable development picture? Well I think one thing is of course that when it comes to sustainable development, we know that behavioral change is something that is needed, we need to challenge and change the way we look at ourselves. That way that we look at what leads to one being the way that we look at just a norms and also how identities created.

And we know that gender is a big part of that. So I think that the knowledge and And understanding on how sort of deeply set, gender, like traditional gender roles, or is, I think, unless it with me when we work is that, that knowledge is crucial. If we are to create through good Solutions and Holistic Solutions, yeah, yes.

More Holistic Solutions. And I think, of course, sustainability is also about power and the division of Power and to working with gender. Equality is about highlighting. The at both who also saw the questioning like, who is expected to change and who gets to decide what change is needed. So that's also one of the things.

And then, of course, also in dialogue, like, who gets asked, and who doesn't get asked about things? What are they, are there groups that are sort of not included? In, for example, Citizen dialogues and Highlight that and to have that knowledge. So think that gender equality is a crucial part of all work with sustainable development.

In just it's a key. I think into to understand also different sort of power structures that are always in play and I think that that knowledge is needed in working with sustainability as a whole. I mean it sounds like inclusivity is a big part of that equation. And can you tell Us what the city of umeå has done to involve those who are not usually a part of the urban planning process.

Yeah, I think to start with that, I think it's also sort of the first step is to look at do we know today? Who is involved? Do we know what groups are involved in citizen dialogue? And what groups are not. So if you haven't sort of done that, done that already, then I mean, looking at actually, observing and looking at different citizen dialogues is the First step, and then through that, of course, and seeing, okay.

So these are the groups that participate in a dialogue. Let's say it's a dialogue in the neighborhood, for example. Okay. So these are the groups that are participating. Okay. So what do we know about people who actually live here is, is like the people that live in the neighborhood are? Is that also the people that participated in the dialogue?

Or is there a discrepancy between those two? So then that that's if there is a discrepancy then, okay? So that's an indication that maybe there is Need for one another or a specific tile. Log. So for example, we've had specific dialogues aimed at schools aimed at groups of young women but also trying to sort of pinpoint groups that we know are not always participating and young people as a group is one of those.

And then we have also been targeted specific groups of young women, but then it's also about, of course, the methods that we use when it comes to Citizen dialogue. So, instead of expecting citizens to come to City Hall and participate in a dialogue for example, or to participate participate, in some large town hall meeting.

We go out into the neighborhood. We have a bike that we bring and stand outside of, we've had one dialogue. We've stood outside of Grocery stores, for example, because we know that that's one of the spaces where people places where people sort of go through, all right, the middle of the weeks and then just and so trying to bring the dialogue out into the City and then also using different types of methods for when it comes to the actual dialogue or when it comes to collecting sort of opinions from inhabitants.

So having a variety of different methods so that you have the possibility. Little both sort of give your opinion verbally to someone to talk to an urban planner that you can do it on digitally on the website, like the municipalities website that you can, maybe fill out the survey that feels more comfortable or that you can, you're giving me options. Yeah, really.

Giving the options because we know that and we'll, of course, people are different and not everyone is comfortable with every sort of method in, in having a dialogue or a Conversation. So having a variety of methods is also, I think a key that really ties into my next question. Actually, because you mentioned Youth and I, you know, I understand that the development of sustainable just and fair City's is incomplete without those youth voices. And I understand that this very idea has been incorporated into the upcoming un biodiversity conference AKA cop15, which is coming up in Montreal and that there are entire sessions at the conference that are going.

Be dedicated to Youth and women. And can you tell us a little bit more about the role that gender has and raising or contributing to youth voices? Well, I think this is also sort of going back to gender equality in working with that, it being sort of key to understanding different types of power structures. So just highlighting that, of course, there are different groups, have different different groups, have different sort of sets on on what kind of power they have to contribute to change.

Or contribute to the agenda and I think here, if you talk about young people as a whole they were group. They don't have a lot of money that's like and one of the things that gives you power and they don't maybe have the of course they lived experience or knowledge on how different sort of bureaucratic or administrative functions are or processes, what they look like. So that also means I have to think about the type of dialogue and a type of sub collecting of opinions that you. You conduct those.

But I think for us also when it comes to dialogue with, for example young women we've had one specific dialogue in the central part intramural in a park and then also going back to the methods. I mean we had very also using more creative methods for collecting opinions, or understanding the position of being a young person in a city.

T so you know photography theater, dance Workshop, right? That kind of methods for collecting more having a and I think it's when it comes to groups of young people because they're also sort of on the move. They don't maybe see themselves or so this is where I'm going to live for the next 15-20 years old.

They're always sort of on the move and the timelines are different. They have three months or six months is a very long time for someone who's 17 year old for someone. His fifth day it's not so long. So understanding the different sort of how you perceive time and what's a long time? What's a short time?

It's also important. But then of course I mean we do when we have we have these large service that we do in room you're both on in the general population. But also specifically aimed at young people and we know that they're they are a group as a whole and young women more than young men that are very worried about climate It change, right?

They think about it a lot and they at the same time that they have very little like formal like power to actually influence and set the agenda. So I think just including them is crucial both for just bring some of the innovations that they bring to the table. The thoughts that they bring to the table, what are and also like it's their future that we're talking about. So, the Need to be part of the conversation, you know, of course, that's a voice.

You can't have out of the conversation. I'm curious to understand how this looks a little bit more at the local level. I'm hoping, can you, could you illustrate a couple of examples of what gender Landscaping looks like in your city? Where has the city gotten it right? Or where would you still like to improve? Well, when we talk about the gendered landscape method, it is about understanding the The city as a whole understanding that, gendered power structures is always sort of surrounding us understanding.

Also that the physical structure of the city creates the conditions for what kind of lies that can be lived in that City or in that specific place. And for example, what we highlight is that where is it easy to access and use public transportation? If you work, for example, at the hospital and we know that hospital is female-dominated workplace. It's much more difficult to access public transportation. If you work in a larger industry or an industrial area intramural and those are male dominated.

So there are gendered structures in relation then also to sustainability and changing the way we look at who uses public transportation, who takes the car, who walks who bikes women travel more sustainable and you me or than men do, and we do a travel habits survey a large one. Like every five years and we can see that women travel more sustainable, women walk more to work, for example, intramural than men do. So if the conditions for how easy or difficult is it to walk to and from your work but also targeting its led to the understanding or the knowledge that women travel. More sustainable has also led to both our discussion on from a sustainability standpoint and needing to I said that needs to reduce the emissions when it

comes to transport like what is the best investment is the best investment to Electrify the bus fleet or is the best investment to get men to take the bus? Like what leads to the largest decrease in emissions and it's absolutely 100% to get men to take the bus. So I mean doing both is best of course, but just one of the things that we highlight is that technical sort of innovation or digitalization.

Ian or talking about investment in sustainability and talking about the new technology, that is something that a lot of cities are doing. It's something that we can also quite. I mean, I don't want to say easily, but it's easier to maybe share experiences and learn from others. But when it comes to like Behavior change, how do we change behaviors?

How do we change our own behaviors and how we view ourselves? That is something that is extremely Difficult. It's and it's not. And that is something. Where we also Associated try to highlight. That is, there is a need for more exchange of experience in between different cities, organizations, and having those discussions lead it, my absolute believe that those the Norms are very deeply set within us and they can look differently throughout Europe, of course, depending on context, but we must not underestimate how Wow, what a challenges is to change behaviors.

No, it's no small task. Absolutely. It's I think a huge part of the challenges that a lot of cities face right now is they try to transition to becoming more sustainable? Yeah. I'd like to shift now over to hearing a bit about. Oh May has involvement in the go green Roots project? I understand that the project is still in its early stages and that the implementation of planned nature based Solutions is expected to begin. Next year can You tell us a little bit about what you may have hopes to achieve by being a part of the project. Well I think that it over, one of the things that has been highlighted within the project has been off. Of course, the citizen dialogue and exploring and advancing our work when it comes to Citizen

dialogue. And also these are the multi-stakeholder collaborating with local businesses. We've collaborated with a preschool in this specific area where we worked. Really trying to create Solutions together. But also to create really a sense of sort of community within the project to try to get a lot of Engagement in this specific part of, you know, where we're working. And I know that when I talk to my colleagues who are involved in the project, one of the things that they really highlight is this collaboration between the local businesses that are along the street and also, then parts of the municipality, for example, the The preschools and trying to find we talked a little bit earlier like how do we find the Innovative new innovative ideas

for transformation and seeing that those were that we need to collaborate with different stakeholders? There's a school involved as well. So I think that's been one of the things that those have been part of the project have highlighted and trying to find like solutions that are a little bit more outside of the Traditional outside of the box, a little bit.

Yeah, so I understand that. The gogreen roots project has also tried to establish a voluntary, gender inclusion and diversity group. I'm curious to know what you think about the group and do you think it can help your city? Yeah, I think that any initiative that try to highlight the importance of gender, equality, and inclusion, and diversity is good. I think it needs to be integrated into. It needs to be integrated, of course, into the work as a whole, but I think.

Absolutely, that's a great idea. I think that one of the key things for the city of Amman, the work with gender equality and is that working with gender, equality working with inclusion, and we're seeing that as something that that is sort of unleashes potential, its creative its development. It's just really trying to challenge the way that we have traditionally done things. Of course there is resistant, and of course it is. Also, it can be a painful process both for individuals and for organizations to look at your own power, sort of. Yeah, but really do see the position of power that you're in either as an individual or as an organization and try to To challenge that in some way and

do things differently. That that is how we get two more innovative ideas and innovative solutions. Yeah, it's me. That sounds like a like a very honest reflection is required a part of that process. Absolutely absolutely. So I have a only one more main question here for you and then we're going to move into another segment and so equal. Europe has a gender group in the process of formalization and I'm wondering what you would tell those colleagues to keep in mind, when embarking on this journey to support cities with their work on gender, Well, then I would say to really look at gender as something that is sustainable development, that it's crucial to work towards becoming climate neutral than gender.

Equality needs to be a part of that and to see that sort of gender equality, climate neutrality, are things that need to be reached like, in Tandem and I would also say to be brave and to have what you say. like having have them patient to have an honest reflection and to maybe not run into Solutions or suggestions quickly, but also to take time to talk about like what is the problem and what is it that we need to challenge within the work that we're doing because I think that if there's a gold were very keen to find Solutions very quickly and I think that sometimes we need to talk about the problem for a little A bit longer and thing and sort of to, yeah.

Think before you act. Yes. Yeah. And do end and also to yeah, absolutely think before you act too. So yeah, that's good. Okay, good jobs, good jobs. We've nearly reached the end of our conversation but there's just a little bit more insight that I'm hoping you can provide for us. So this leads us to the Final Act of our show which is called hot takes.

I'll ask you ten questions and what I'm Looking for is a brief instinctual response. Okay, yep. Okay, so gender equality is an essential part of sustainable development. Yes, every city you should have a gender equality officer. Yes. Why not why not? Yeah. An example of a city that is doing great work.

In terms of gender, Landscaping is. Mm, yeah, well, I'd like to highlight those like the city of Vienna has worked for a really long time with urban planning gender equality. There are real role model in Europe but also like to highlight the work that's been done by our partners. It is in our agenda.

Landscape project. Yeah what are three words you would use to describe the concept or idea of gender Landscaping. holistic contextual Awareness-raising. Okay, very good. Feminism is a part of gender. Feminism is understanding that men as a group have more power than women as a group and we need to challenge and change that. When I travel in other cities, a gender Landscaping element. I look out for is how do women and men travel who is standing at the bus stop?

What are the statues that are? Or what is the public art? It's a good point in this city there. What community or group would you like to see better represented in urban planning? I would say that depending on what city you're in, like, who lives in the city in the city, and are those group represented or not.

Okay, what is something umeå has already absorbed or learned from working with go green Roots project cities, the importance. I think of this multi stakeholder and the importance of collaborating with different stakeholders in a city think. There are a lot of cities in Europe that have much more experience than you mewling working with, for example, ngos.

And when it comes, Mr. Urban planning. That's something that we've learned. Well, that's it actually, you've made it through nicely done. There's some tricky questions in there, I realized. Yeah. So that actually brings us to the end of our conversation and I think you provide our listeners with some important and likely new insight into the role of gender equality in sustainable, Urban Development and I would like to thank you so much for joining us on the show.

Thank you for having me. If you would like to learn more about the gogreen roots project or about May sustainability, work, check out the links in the episode description. If you are enjoying the show this far, be sure to follow us. So you'll be the first to know about upcoming episodes. There are plenty more local voices for sustainability on the horizon and we're glad to have you with us.

Thanks for listening. And until next time,

Cultivating the Gender Equal City in Umeå

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