A city for everyone? A study about young women's lives in a transforming suburb

Stockholm is growing. By year 2050, it is expected to expand with another million inhabitants. More housing is needed, especially in suburban areas. At the same time, inequalities and segregation are growing significantly in Stockholm. This is challenging. The question is how to build an equal and socially sustainable city - a city for everyone.

This project aims to examine inequalities in the city from an intersectional perspective, focusing on young women living marginalised suburban areas. This is a group generally ignored and disadvantaged within urban development processes.

The aim is to explore how urban space is perceived and used (or lived) by young women in marginalised suburban areas as well as conceived by the people who plan, control and manage these areas. Using various forms of qualitative research methods, in particular participant observations and interviews, the study is conducted in three suburban areas south of Stockholm: Fittja, Flemingsberg and Östberga.

Project objective

The objective is to gain knowledge about how to develop more equal cities and suburbs - where young women can be included and participate to the same extent as other groups. In line with Crenshaw - one of the forerunners of intersectional thinking - our project departs from the idea that if we address the needs of those who are disadvantaged and restructure urban space accordingly, then others will benefit too. Thus, working our way towards a more equal and socially sustainable urban and suburban environment.