Why designing with focus on “Planet – People” is an inclusive and feminist approach?
As American historian Joan Scott said, “gender is everywhere.” There are alternatives we can study that can help us change our productive model such as in feminist economics, whose concern is life sustainability whereas the economical focus of our capitalist system is that markets operate. To contemplate a change of approach would lead to a rupture with the current model in which a confluence process between the transforming economies that propose a paradigm shift, becomes necessary.
It is important to talk about this because United Nations it predicts that climate change, already a consequence of our disproportionate levels of production, will greatly affect poor people, mainly in developing countries. And consequently they will be the ones in most need of adaptation strategies in the face of the environmental variability. Of course, this misalignment will affect both women and men. However, the impact on gender will not be the same (it never is). Seventy percent of 1.3 billion poverty stricken people, are women. In urban areas, 40 percent of the poorest households are led by women. Women predominate in world food production (50 to 80 percent), but own less than 10 percent of the land.
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), women in many developing countries suffer gender injustices in respect to human rights, political and economic status, land ownership, housing conditions, violence exposure, education and health. Climate change will be an additional stress factor that will aggravate women’s vulnerability. As reported in a study by the IUCN, it is widely known that during times of conflict, women face increased domestic violence, sexual intimidation, human trafficking and rape.
In this talk at the Paradís Festival, Núria Vila taught viewers how ecological and sustainable design is always possible. “The key is to study materials and possibilities for the designs that each client commissions.” “The future will be sustainable or it won’t be.”