SAFETY, ACCESSIBILITY, COMFORT:GENDER AUDIT OF URBAN SPACE IN KYIV

Background. Cities are spaces of intensive social, economic, and political interactions, where spatial decisions and urban planning practices have unequal consequences for different social groups of residents. A gender audit in urban space is considered a practical methodology that allows for the systematic assessment of how policies, spatial practices, and infrastructure take into account or ignore the needs of people of different genders. It provides a basis for developing corrective measures and policies aimed at reducing gender barriers in access to urban spaces and urban resources.

Methods. The study employs the methods of observation, in-depth semi-structured interviews, the semantic differential method, analysis and synthesis, and the graphical method.

Results. The article presents an assessment of urban space in terms of its safety, accessibility, and comfort from a gender perspective, using two case studies in the city of Kyiv – residential complexes of business and economy class. The findings show that women associate comfort with coziness, well-maintained spaces, lighting, and safety, while men tend to focus more on practicality, functionality, and access control. Women’s evaluations are more oriented toward everyday comfort, a sense of safety, and child- and family-related needs, whereas men demonstrate a rational approach with a generally positive overall assessment. The responses of women and men create a complementary picture: women emphasize "how one feels in a space," while men focus on "how it can be organized technically."

Conclusions. The absence of a gender-sensitive approach in urban planning leads to inequalities in mobility, increases the vulnerability of certain groups, and limits their participation in urban life. Currently, Ukraine lacks national building standards for gender-sensitive urbanism; therefore, cities that are convenient for everyone are planned with consideration of such requirements as safety, accessibility, walkability, and comfort.