Gender Stereotypes in the City: A Socio-Normative Approach

Urban space has long been associated with a unique, homogenous point of view that has overlooked the representation of gender in the city. Building on recent literature that has uncovered the potentialities of using a gendered lens for addressing the city and urban space, we offer a socio-normative approach that brings law, rights and legal stereotypes in conversation with such literature. In order to do so we will first look briefly at the reciprocal constitution of law, space and stereotypes. Then we will address examples and specific characteristics of urban space and norm/rights enjoyment, exploring different kinds of urban spaces and their theorization where gender issues and normative elements are at stake. We conclude by arguing that law, gender and urban space suffer from a reciprocal invisibilization that has greatly limited the detection of discriminatory attitudes in the urban domain as well as of practices of resistance.