Women’s Issues in Transportation: Summary of the 4th International Conference, Volume 1: Conference Overview and Plenary Papers (2011)

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17 BReAKOuT SeSSION Gender Equality and Equity Issues Cheryl Calloway, Consultant, Presiding Wanna Svedberg, University of Göthenburg, Sweden Merritt Polk, University of Göthenburg, Sweden Cheryl Calloway presided over the session on gen-der equality and equity issues, which examined a Swedish law requiring a gender-equal transporta- tion system and the efficacy of laws to bring about effec- tive change. gender-eQual TransporTaTion sysTem: legal sTudy for implemenTaTion of gender eQualiTy responsibiliTy in The TransporTaTion seCTor Wanna Svedberg The primary research question in this study is: Can regulation (laws) support implementation of gender equality in transportation policy? The focus is on legisla- tion, which consists of rules that have an impact on the decision-making process concerning the establishment, design, and administration of the transport sector. The theoretical and methodological approaches used in the study are feminist legal studies and sociol- ogy of law. A model for understanding the findings and implications was adapted to these constructs. The model approaches the legal system as a system of norms containing an internal and external structure. The internal structure contains three types of legisla- tive rules: rules of competence, which indicate who is responsible for taking actions; rules of process, which provide rules for the decision-making process; and rules of action, which outline what has to be done to achieve the goal). The model assumes all three types must be used to achieve the goal of gender equality in the transport sector. Swedish transport policy serves to ensure the econom- ically efficient and sustainable provision of transport ser- vices for people and business throughout the country. Six subgoals support the overall objective: an accessible transport system, high transport quality standards, safe traffic, a good environment, favorable regional develop- ment, and a gender-equal transport system. The sixth goal has as its objective an equal transportation system designed to fulfill both women’s and men’s travel needs. Women’s and men’s values must be accorded the same weight and must be given the same potential to influ- ence the establishment, design, and administration of the transport sector. The intention of the goal is not clear; therefore, the study interprets the policies in terms of what a gender- equal transportation system is supposed to be. At the least, it must include women’s participation and repre- sentation in decision making as a whole, at all levels, especially in political decision making. It is assumed equal participation of both women and men in decision making will provide a gender-equal transportation sys- tem. In addition to balanced representation, women’s access to the transportation system is emphasized as a quality of a gender-equal transportation system. The study analyzes the use of legislation as a tool for governance regarding the key elements, namely, repre- sentation and accessibility. Although the paper does not explicitly define a gender-neutral system, it points out the objective has not been defined and no processes have been implemented to move toward the goal.

18 WOMeN’S ISSueS IN TRANSPORTATION, vOluMe 1 gender eQualiTy: a Key Tool for reaChing susTainable developmenT in The TransporT seCTor Merritt Polk For many years, both sustainable development and gender equality have been prominent political goals in Sweden. Gender equality has also been an explicit goal of transportation policy and planning since 2001; how- ever, limited success in reaching a more gender-equal transport system has occurred. Therefore, Sweden has not taken full advantage of the benefits gender equal- ity could contribute to sustainable development in the transport sector. One of the reasons for the gap between political goals and practice is gender blindness to differences in women’s and men’s choice of travel modes, driving behavior, envi- ronmental and social impacts, and attitudes and power. Gender blindness is exacerbated by the lack of a coherent and applicable framework for integrating gender issues, sustainable development, and transport. This study discusses key issues from a literature review including gender and technology studies, geography, envi- ronmental psychology, sustainable transport, and urban planning as well as qualitative and quantitative research on mobility gender differences. The implications for sus- tainable development within the transport sector are dis- cussed, and the paper explores how gender equality can be more effectively used as an analytical and theoretical tool in research and policy to further the attainment of sustainable development within the transport sector. A recent review of transport research in general showed the transport sector is a male-dominated work space. Paradigms and the worldviews regarding pro- fessional, public, and media perceptions and represen- tations of transport are linked to a masculine identity. Men dominate public participation, decision making, and planning. One consequence is the dominance of technical approaches and exclusion of a wide number of skills, scientific paradigms, and knowledge bases crucial for sustainable mobility. This approach does not ques- tion the promotion of certain types of travel patterns and mode use, such as the car, the high number of deaths and injury, driving under the influence, the social exclusion of different groups of individuals, local and global envi- ronmental degradation, the wasteful and unsustainable use of resources, and degraded and inaccessible urban environments. TopiCs for furTher researCh 1. Consider how a gender-neutral transportation sys- tem can be defined. 2. Identify the gender issues in transportation as they relate to climate change. 3. Determine whether gender differences in travel patterns are the result of choice or constraint. 4. examine how the gender composition of transpor- tation decision makers, researchers, and practitioners affects the outcome. 5. Determine whether legislation is an effective way to create gender equality in transportation.