Pensar a cidade de São Luís na perspectiva de gênero: uma análise do planejamento urbano nos espaços públicos requalificados pelo Programa Municipal de Revitalização do Centro Histórico de São Luís

Abstract

This study aims to understand the social gender relations in the formation of urban space, focusing on the unequal access that women have to facilities, services, and opportunities. The gender debate is approached from a materialist perspective, drawing on Marxist principles for discussion. Authors such as Henri Lefebvre, Jane Jacobs, and Flávio Villaça are considered for their insights on space, city, and territorial structure, alongside gender concepts, patriarchy, and inequalities analyzed by Judith Butler, Heleieth Saffioti, Teresa Di Lauretis, and Michel Foucault. The goal is to contribute to the gender perspective in the discussion about cities, aiming to comprehend the place and role of women in urban spaces. The methodology of Gender Safety Audit and Walkability is employed to reflect on the factors that qualify public spaces within the Municipal Program for the Revitalization of the Historic Center of São Luís. This reflection seeks to address gender needs and aspirations, promoting women's presence and influence in urban spaces. The study utilizes the experience gained from the program implemented by the São Luís municipality, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), focusing on the central area from 2016 to 2022. Open-ended questionnaires were administered to analyze the quality of urban interventions in the historic center of the Maranhão capital concerning gender perspectives. The study presents a critical reflection on the impact of the patriarchal system on city formation and women's daily lives, including their access to contemporary urban spaces. It comprehensively examines the gender perspective within the established spatial context. The urban planning tools used by the program are evaluated as inclusive instruments within the territory. This evaluation is based on interventions made in public spaces, considering gender equity, functionality, and the empowerment of women directly affected. Interviews with women using these spaces provide insights into their perceptions. It can be concluded that the post-occupancy satisfaction of public spaces revitalized by the Program partially caters to the presence of women, as the interventions successfully achieved the goal of implementing solutions and universal accessibility for the refurbished spaces, with favorable satisfaction data among interviewed visitors. However, it is worth noting that the impacts of the interventions on the daily lives of women, who are directly affected and often frequent these places, were not adequately taken into account. According to the results, women still constitute the least numerous group of visitors, even after the refurbishments. Their presence is often associated with other activities, such as those related to care and reproduction.