by 
Sergey Tokarev, founder of Roosh, stresses the importance of inclusion and gender equality in building sustainable cities in Ukraine
In recent years, there has been a growing movement towards creating cities that are inclusive and cater to the needs of everyone, including women. Sergey Tokarev, the founder of Roosh, believes that women should be stakeholders in the design, construction, and development of cities, just as much as men.
Businesses should pay attention to the needs of women to achieve maximum inclusion and comfort for everyone, which ultimately benefits all parties. Sergey Tokarev proposes prioritizing inclusion and gender equality in urban development, and businesses can play a crucial role in promoting it.
The Current State of Inclusion and Gender Equality in Cities
Cities have traditionally been designed for men, with the focus on creating infrastructure for the sustainable functioning of the economy. However, much less attention has been paid to the needs of pedestrians, the infrastructure and safety of residential neighborhoods, and inclusion in general. Developers have also tended to focus on the needs of men, leading to a lack of consideration for the needs of women.
In a survey, women paid serious attention to safety, the environment, and the development of infrastructure near their homes. However, developers in Ukraine have not paid attention to these needs. This is surprising because creating added value should be the driving force behind development companies. When developers create comfort for all target audiences, they receive much higher demand. This results in a mutually beneficial process for businesses, government, and consumers.
The Benefits of Inclusive Urban Development
Europe has already taken steps towards creating inclusive spaces that meet the needs of women. Pilot projects of spaces have been introduced that will meet the needs of women no less than the needs of men. Sweden has even created entire cities with the needs of women in mind. In Vienna, there are separate neighborhoods.
Strategies for Promoting Gender Equality and Inclusion in Ukraine
To move this issue forward in Ukraine, women should be integrated into the process of rebuilding and restoring the country after the war. Sergey Tokarev suggests strategies like engaging women in the planning process, prioritizing safety and accessibility, creating public services, and ensuring equal opportunities for women. Women should be involved from all sides: from active citizens to architects, designers, representatives of local administrations, and businesses. An educational campaign should be conducted in Ukraine, providing global examples of building inclusive spaces and transferring the experience to Ukrainian realities.
An experiment in Sweden restored a park in the central part of Umeå based on the wishes of schoolgirls. According to Sergey Tokarev, a Ukrainian initiative STEM is FEM has developed a free Ukrainian course on urbanism for girls. Participants, together with mentors, architects, and urbanists, had to prepare group projects. The best works will be finalized by experts and implemented in Ukrainian cities and towns affected by the war. The course was created as part of the “Dreaming and Acting” program, which began in the fall of 2022. The girls learned the basics of urbanism and architecture, met with influential experts in the field, and formed their own vision of the future recovery of the country.
Final Thoughts on Sustainable Cities in Ukraine
To conclude, women should be stakeholders in the design, construction, and development of cities. The needs of women should be addressed equally with the needs of men in the restoration of Ukrainian cities. This way, we can achieve maximum inclusion and comfort for everyone. The creation of inclusive spaces benefits not only women but also businesses and government, resulting in a mutually beneficial process for all.
