Parks and prejudice

My fondest childhood memories are those of family picnics in neighbourhood parks during the winter. Our parents would bask under the sun and sip chai while the kids ran around on the grass, playing all sorts of made-up games. We would then be rewarded with snacks from the tuck shop and a balloon each.

Growing up, parks were an integral part of our lives — a place synonymous to fun and freedom, where friendships were forged on merry-go-rounds and where the pure thrill of swinging on rusty swings created cherished memories that we still hold dear today.

In an age where space and time for physical activity are limited, parks provide an institution not just for mobility, but also social cohesion. They offer respite in densely packed urban jungles, a breath of fresh air where people of all ages and backgrounds can converge and establish connections through shared experiences.

That being said, we may not be as free of prejudice as we would like to believe.

A study conducted by researchers from the World Bank and Warwick Business School in Karachi revealed that in a virtual reality experiment, exposure to diverse groups of people in a park setting could sometimes worsen social cohesion by “lowering trust and perceptions towards outgroups”. The paper, titled ‘Urban Design, Public Spaces, and Social Cohesion: Evidence from a Virtual Reality Experiment’, aimed to look at how improved urban design in a park could impact not only participants’ willingness to use the public space, but also their perceptions about people who were not from their gender or ethnic group.

In order to investigate the willingness to utilize the park and to delve into the aspects of social cohesion, the researchers used a VR setting — something that has not been done before. They presented participants with videos featuring a park both with and without key urban design elements, including tree plantations, kiosks, and various amenities, measuring the variations in participants’ willingness to use the park and their perceptions towards individuals who were different from them across both settings.

As expected, a higher number of individuals expressed their willingness to visit the park that had enhanced urban design. It is intriguing to observe the influence that minor alterations, such as adding trees alongside a walking track, can wield over public perception. While the phrase ‘urban design’ may sound fancy and expensive, it is worth noting that even the inclusion of a few benches and a colourful flower-bed can work wonders in shaping how people perceive and utilize a public space.

However, the study revealed intriguing insights in its analysis of social cohesion. There were mixed responses when participants were shown people of different genders and ethnicities occupying the park in the VR setting. In some cases, perceptions towards others were negative even in the park with improved urban design. This underscores the idea that preconceived biases can overshadow physical improvements. It becomes evident that endeavours to enhance and maintain the utilization of public spaces should place equal, if not greater, emphasis on the social dynamics of the individuals intended to inhabit these spaces.

One finding of the study was that young women felt less relaxed or happy when thinking about the men they saw in the public space. While this finding may not be entirely unexpected, it remains disheartening to witness the persistence of such gender-related discomfort in these communal settings. This pervasive unease stems from an interplay of various factors.

Disturbing cases of harassment and crimes against women in public parks and motorways, coupled with the distressing prevalence of unpunished street harassment incidents taking place in broad daylight, have contributed to many women opting out of utilizing public facilities that are available to them. Furthermore, the inadequate provision of lighting, security measures, and often the absence of female-friendly amenities in these areas serve to further exacerbate their discomfort and erode their sense of safety.

It is important to recognize that safe and inclusive public spaces, like parks, are not just a matter of convenience; they are an essential component of societal well-being. The ability to enjoy these spaces without fear or discomfort is not a mere luxury but a fundamental right, and the quality of public spaces is intrinsically linked to the quality of life for all community members.

Efforts to create secure, welcoming public spaces are not separate from the broader goals of economic development and social progress. They are interconnected, and the success of one reinforces the other. When women feel safe and included in public areas, it not only empowers them but also fosters a sense of unity and social cohesion within our communities. In contrast, when public spaces are fraught with discomfort and insecurity, it hampers economic activity, restricts social interactions, and perpetuates divisions in society.

When discussing urban planning and the development of inclusive public spaces, it is vital to emphasize the need for tailored measures to ensure the safety and comfort of women. A crucial aspect of this involves well-illuminated parks with secure pathways, installation of surveillance cameras to deter potential offenders, and the provision of clean, secure restrooms equipped with necessary facilities. The implementation of specified family timings or designating female-only sections within parks can also be explored as a proactive measure for security and inclusivity. Even seemingly small-scale interventions, such as deploying security personnel, can have a significant impact in deterring potential incidents and reassuring visitors.

On a larger scale, the implementation of state-sponsored caller tunes, televised advertisements, and public service campaigns designed to promote and empower women to actively engage in public spaces, such as parks, could wield substantial influence in reshaping societal attitudes. At the same time, it is crucial to ensure that well-planned and secure recreational spaces are accessible not only to women residing in urban centers, where the establishment of parks might be relatively straightforward, but also to those in suburban and outlying areas. This ensures that women from diverse backgrounds and locations can enjoy the benefits of these communal spaces without encountering safety concerns or barriers to entry.

In an ideal world, none of this would have been necessary. In an ideal world, the concept of a public space in which women can engage without apprehension for their safety would be an intrinsic and unchallenged reality. However, given the current state of affairs, the imperative for these measures cannot be overstated. It is incumbent upon us to transform these spaces into safe, inclusive environments, ensuring that women can reclaim their right to public spaces without hesitation.

The writer is a research executive at Gallup Pakistan.