Is Brussels a ‘Care city’? A gender investigation on the effects of the public transportation system on carers’ lives

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explore the complex dynamics between issues of care, gender, and mobility, trying to reflect on the characteristics of an urban environment designed to meet the needs of women working in the care sector, regardless of their ethnicity, age, social status, physical condition, or sexual orientation and definition. By choosing the city of Brussels as an adequate case study we especially focus on the impact of the city’s mobility sector on the daily life of migrant female care workers, and of vulnerable groups more generally. This ongoing research is based on a theoretical framework (stemming from existing literature) from which we have extrapolated a set of parameters to structure the data collection (by interviews) and the theoretical and graphical elaborations. To address and respond to the multiple crises we are facing today, in our view it is crucial to call for a radical change in our urban design processes, directing our efforts toward implementing more inclusive urban models and practices. Our methodology gave us an opportunity to critically reflect on the possibilities that gender-driven urban policies and practices could open for our cities (and societies) towards a more sustainable and inclusive future for all.