i. Liverpool: A Man-Made Environment

LIVERPOOL: A MAN-MADE ENVIRONMENT

Liverpool was my first experience of living within a city. Thrown into the experiences of University, it brings me joy to remember the years I enjoyed growing up independently, whilst also becoming a young professional. In addition, Liverpool formulated itself into the perfect city for an Architecture student. The city embodies a rich history as a port, whilst constant regeneration always offered new opportunities and experiences.

My parents warned me to “stay alert”. I was told by friends “text me when you get home”.

As a young woman it was engrained within me to stay safe within a city. I was also told that this was my responsibility. But only recently have I began to recognise that the city was not made for people like me. I am a woman within a manmade environment.

Figure. 9: My personal experience of being within the city

Figure. 10: Alexandra Docks Liverpool, 1901 To begin this exploration of women in the city, this study will set the context of Liverpool and the social construction of the city as a man-made environment.

Firstly the history and conception of the city of Liverpool was primarily shaped by its position as a port city. The port industries employed thousands of men; in 1950, reportedly 17,000 (Winn, 1951). Author Pat Ayers in her study of Work, Culture and Gender, states that the domination of industry strengthened the male identity in the city, arguing “trade union membership and the empowerment associated with collective action to improve status, conditions and wages, became part of the existing collectivities of men, that had arisen out of the structured situation of port workers, to produce a notion of manhood, which emphasized working-class male identity.” (Ayers, 2004; pg155). Ayers demonstrates how concentrations of workers and the perception of the worker as a male, has the ability to socially construct a city as a man-made environment and influence the empowerment of the male in the city.

As Liverpool now transitions from its past industries, regeneration seeks strategies to maintain life in the city. Feminist geographer Leslie Kern suggests that the gender of cities can transform with regeneration. She states, “The feminization of urban spaces continues today. As global north cities have transitioned away from economies based on industrial manufacturing to economies based on knowledge and service work (so-called post-industrial economies), the more masculine features of cities have changed.” (Kern, 2020; pg 81)

The feminisation of the city of Liverpool is arguably evident with its transformation from a male dominated port to a retail led city centre. In the 1990s, Healey & Baker consulted the city to identify that a retail-led scheme would bring Liverpool’s centre up to scratch, and with this came the development of Liverpool One, with design led by the interdisciplinary practice BDP (BDP, 2009; pg 30). The perception of ‘feminisation’ is demonstrated in the changing representation of the users of the city centre of Liverpool, as Figure 11 demonstrates Liverpool One was advertised as a place for women.

Figure. 11: ‘Feminization’ of Liverpool, demonstrated in the Liverpool One Advert 2017

Alternatively, this dissertation will argue that the city still remains a man-made environment to this day. In both the past and present context of Liverpool, the domination of capitalism shapes the city. The conception of the city is fuelled by the past influence of industry, and the present influence of consumerism. In The Production of Space, Lefebvre argues that capitalism produces “abstract space” (Lefebvre, 1991; pg57). This space is conceived objectively through calculations, quantifications, schedules and therefore, prioritises the male domination of industry and capitalism. Consequently, this “silences users” (Lefebvre, 1991: pg.51) and fails to recognise everyday lives and challenges of others, including women.

absolute space abstract space differential space

perceived space conceived space lived space

Figure. 12: Lefebvre’s Production of Space The action of abstract space silencing users is still evident within the city of Liverpool and in particular for this dissertation, for women in the city. For example, the perception of the woman shopping within the city of Liverpool is an example of misrepresentation. Kern also argues this, stating “By shopping for clothing, decor, and art, women were fulfilling their roles as caretakers of the hearth.” (Kern, 2020: pg.55) Spaces for shopping were one of the first places where women were able to claim public space, and exist outside of the home. However, women are portrayed as depended on men and capitalism to enter and enjoy public space. Additionally, the other many actions and roles women have in the city as users are ignored and women are constrained to their stereotypical perceived identity as consumers in the city.

The following part of this dissertation will call attention to and place the woman as a user in the city. It will highlight the varying lived experiences they have in the city, as well as display the challenges they still face in the man-made environment, where they have been silenced as users.