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Gender Matrix

The REACH-Cities Gender Matrix aims to provide a snapshot of how everyday gendered and intersectional experiences interact with municipal policies. We were inspired by the Gender Analysis & COVID-19 Matrix from the Gender and COVID-19 Research Project.

Our matrix looks specifically at municipal policy areas of: Safety, Food Security, Income, Health, Childcare, Recreation & Public Space, Housing, and Transportation. It explores gender-related impacts on the domains of: Access to Resources; Labour, Practices & Role; Norms, Values & Beliefs; and Power & Decision-Making. Within the matrix, we see examples of single mothers struggling to find affordable housing, the need for culturally informed healthcare for Indigenous people, and better lighting in transit hubs to increase safety for women and girls, amongst others. 

How might a city use a gender matrix?

The matrix can be used by urban planners to support their work in creating more equitable policies. For example, a municipal planning department responsible for a city’s Official Community Plan wants to take an intersectional equity approach. Planners can use the questions posed in the matrix template to inform which demographics to portray in graphs and charts, as well as consider general equity visions for their city. Additionally, the examples in the matrix can help planners consider the broad range of issues residents are experiencing, especially those historically underrepresented and under-engaged, help encourage planners to adapt language when referring to demographics and identify which community groups they would like to engage with more.

The matrix is also built with community organizations in mind. It can support community organizations in their efforts to gain more funding by providing concrete examples of the challenges facing their patrons, as well as point to specific examples of how the people they serve experience barriers in equity. 

Apply it to your work!

Methodology 

This matrix compiles findings from searches conducted between July and October 2022, using keywords in Google, SFU Library, and targeted searches of City of Surrey and community organization websites. We selected notable examples for each topic, highlighting gendered and intersectional identities, reflecting how our urban experiences are shaped by factors like gender, race, ability, and socio-economic background.

Acknowledgements
A special thank you to Lucy Wicken and Dr. Julia Smith for their contributions to the development of this matrix.

  Access to resources Distribution of Labour, Practices, and Roles Norms, Values, Beliefs Power, Decision-Making
Safety Who is responsible for ensuring safety within a community, family, organization? How do gendered norms, values, beliefs, and expectations influence one’s safety in the city?  Who is influential in safety policies? How is influence exercised by various groups or people of different genders? 
Food Security How does access to resources limit or enable food security for people of different genders?  Who is responsible for securing food security within a community, family, organization?  How do gendered norms, values, and beliefs influence one's ability to access culturally appropriate foods for people of different genders and intersecting inequities? Who is influential in food security policies? How is influence exercised by various groups or people of different genders?
Income & Employment How does access to resources limit or enable income and employment opportunities for people of different genders? How do gendered labour, practices, and roles affect employment opportunities for people of different genders? How do gendered labour, practices, and roles affect employment opportunities for people of different genders? Who is influential in economic policies? How is influence exercised by various groups or people of different genders?
Health How does access to resources limit or enable health concerns for people of different genders?  How do gendered labour, practices, and roles affect employment opportunities for people of different genders? How do these roles affect healthcare workers of different genders and intersecting identities?  How do gendered norms, values, and beliefs influence experiences with health services for people of different genders?  Who is influential in healthcare policies? How is influence exercised by various groups/people of different genders?
Childcare How does access to resources limit or enable access to childcare for people of different genders? How do gendered labour, practices, and roles affect the childcare workforce (which is 99% women)? Who provides to childcare? How do gendered norms, values, and beliefs influence experiences with childcare for people of different genders?  Who is influential in childcare policies? How is influence exercised by various groups or people of different genders?
Recreation & Public Space How does access to resources limit or enable recreation and public space concerns for people of different genders?  Who provides recreation activities? How do gender practices influence which activities are provided for which genders? How do gendered norms, values, and beliefs influence experiences with recreation and public space (who does what types and where) for people of different genders? Who is influential in recreation & public space policies? How is influence exercised by various groups or people of different genders? 
Housing How does access to resources limit or enable housing concerns for people of different genders? How do gendered labour, practices, and roles affect who has access to secure housing, who rents, who owns, etc.? How do gendered norms, values, and beliefs affect what housing is desirable and for whom? Who is influential in housing policies? How is influence exercised by various groups or people of different genders?
Transportation How does access to resources limit or enable transit concerns for people of different genders? How do gendered labour, practices, and roles affect who has access to transportation and what kinds? How do gendered norms, values, and beliefs influence one’s experience with both public and private transportation?  Who is influential in transportation policies? How is influence exercised by various groups or people of different genders? 
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