Ca.Sa. Ca.re and Sa.fety, feeling at home in urban spaces

It is a truth - almost - universally acknowledged that cities are often hostile places for women. Their freedom to walk alone, stay out at night, take up their space is too frequently limited due to social conventions and perceived danger. Somehow, our cities still materialise the idea that a woman’s place is at home. Our purpose is to reverse this principle, affirming that a woman should feel at home anywhere, especially in public spaces. Adopting a gender perspective, we discuss the key issues of Care and Safety as two interwoven aspects of a renewed attitude towards urban public spaces. While caring has long been a duty for women to fulfil in the private sphere, it should be taken as an attitude to the public realm as well.