WomInPubS · The modes and outcomes of interaction of (im) mobile Kurdish women with public space: a cross-cultural comparative study of different urban contexts

The modes and outcomes of interaction of (im) mobile Kurdish women with public space: a cross-cultural comparative study of different urban contexts

In the literature, not much has been reported on the Kurdish urbanism in Kurdistan (geographic region in Middle East traditionally inhabited mainly by Kurds) in general and women's public space in specific, particularly its socio-spatial implications for their everyday social lives. For this reason, its particularities have largely remained unnoticed in the urban research debates concerning the Middle East region. This is mainly important if we consider this in a cross-cultural comparative study in different urban contexts where Kurdish women have experienced. There is hardly any specific analysis concerning the modes and extent of Kurdish migrant women’s interaction with public space in European cities, particularly how this new spatial context affected their social life, empowerment and their social integration. Crenshaw’s theoretical concept of intersectionality proved to be an important basis for analyzing the close interconnectedness of numerous factors of discrimination and disadvantage that Kurdish women face in urban contexts. As the number of Kurdish people is increasing in Western European cities, this line of the research requires more attention from both international and national contexts particularly to understand the experiences, challenges and needs of these urban dwellers in design and production of inclusive public spaces that are suitable for use by multicultural groups and provide the possibility of intercultural dialogue. The findings can help to find ways of making better connections between their everyday experience as (im) migrants and public spaces as a constituent element of their social life. In addition, the findings show that there is a strong positive relation between women’s interactions in public spaces and their empowerment and social integration. The results can influence local authorities to develop policy agendas concerning the creation, development and use of public spaces with a high degree of sensitivity to everyday social contact and encounters to capture different needs of users, and overcome ethnic-cultural differences and gender inequality in use of public spaces. The aim of the project is to advance a detailed understanding of Kurdish women’s interactions and their empowerment in today’s public spaces in different urban contexts. Considering these leading aim, the main research questions are as follows: 1- What are the modes and extent of women’s interactions in key public spaces within closely defined urban areas and how do the case study cities differ from each other? 2- To what extent do these interactions with public spaces affect women’s empowerment in their social lives and their social integration in the host communities in the case study cities of European context? 3- How does their personal situation (being alone, married or having small children) and other variables as age, level of education, working status and individual religiosity affect these interactions?

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз