Fighting for a Feminist City in Glasgow

What It Covers

Glasgow City Councillor Holly Bruce explains how she transformed feminist urban planning from a research report into official policy, securing £1 million funding for lighting, public toilets, and gender-inclusive city design across Glasgow.

Key Questions Answered

• •Policy Language Strategy: Using the term "feminist city" instead of "gender mainstreaming" generated overwhelming public support and cross-party momentum that secured policy adoption, proving emotive terminology drives engagement more effectively than neutral bureaucratic language.
• •Park Lighting Implementation: Solar stud lighting costing under £20,000 provides wayfinding in bat habitats without environmental disruption, while full route lighting requires £220,000 across four council funding streams—demonstrating affordable solutions exist for contested spaces balancing safety and biodiversity.
• •Public Toilet Access Reform: Glasgow's first public toilet strategy mandates free usage across all council facilities by March 2026, removing the 20p coin barrier. Consultation with 2,000 residents across age, ethnicity, and gender demographics informed this accessibility-first approach to urban infrastructure.
• •Development Application Process: Pre-application checklists requiring developers to demonstrate women and girls engagement plus evidence of gendered lens application embeds feminist planning at the earliest design stage, shifting consultation from surface-level tick-box exercises to substantive community involvement through feminist walking audits.