Gender, transport, and health: Emerging trends and gaps in global research

This chapter provides an overview of emerging knowledge regarding gender, health and transportation. Its importance lies not simply in illustrating women's modal choices, the trip differences, and the effects of transport on health and wellbeing. Gender-based transport research offers a powerful lens to understanding intersectional and intergenerational societal processes. We reviewed 155 studies from low-, middle- and high-income countries, rooted in a variety of disciplines, using diverse methods and considering different transport modes. This review reveals significant work dating back to the 1980s. Despite over 40 years of research, however, gender-sensitive planning remains a proposal, rather than a generalized practice in most of the world. While many studies propose solutions, the most systematic approaches require innovation and improvements to both participatory methods and workforce hiring, to ensure a much greater, more conscious and socially connected role for women and other non-conforming gendered people, throughout planning. Women's fear has received more attention than lived experiences of violence. Transport planners and citizen advocacy should address both root causes and suitable measures to neutralize specific instances of gender based violence. Lack of progress toward achieving gender parity in active travel requires more vigorous research and testing of potential solutions. Support for active, sustainable transport is increasing in many countries, but funding is meagre and typically includes a focus on sports, rather than more gender appropriate images and measures. Gender is a revealing lens for better understanding inequalities, discrimination, associated violence and the nature of society. Getting transport right can catalyse widespread social change, and in turn requires widespread social, cultural and political transformations.