Urban Planning in Vietnam: Why Gender Matters

This paper provides some initial thoughts on urban planning through a gender perspective. Historically and globally, women have been ignored or neglected in the planning domain, which can be seen throughout the development of human civilization where women were literally absent in this field, not until the 1960s when the “second wave” of feminism questioned and challenged the notion of its homogeneity. This issue is clear when it comes to Vietnam’s urban planning, which has long been portrayed as a male-orientated profession. Urban planning appears to be separated from gender studies, and indeed there is lack of literature on the connection of the two. It seems that the majority of urban planning educators, experts, and architect planners have taken for granted the notion of gender neutrality in urban planning, and they have been unaware of how gender difference can shape and influence the establishment of urban form and how cities function. This paper, therefore, will take a preliminary effort to offer an indicative account on this matter, showing the context of gender unequal distribution in Vietnam’s urban planning, and how deep gender inequality is in this industry. It then provides an analysis on the root causes of gender inequalities. The justification for gender study in urban planning will be discussed as well as possible scopes for further investigations will also be raised.