Gender and Urban Geography in Toronto

This assignment delves into the complex relationship between gender and urban geography within the context of Toronto. It examines how feminist theories contribute to understanding spatial inequalities, the impact of globalization and technology on gender roles, and the significance of cultural factors in shaping gender landscapes. The analysis considers both traditional and emerging perspectives on gender identity, encompassing topics such as sexuality, social segregation, and the evolving definitions of urban space.

Running head: gender and the city 1
Landscape from Every Day Life in Toronto
Name
[Institutional Affiliation(s)]
FALL 2017

gender and the city 2
Landscape from Every Day Life in Toronto
Landscape is the geographical connections and continuities visible in a place. Gender is
part of this segmentation that defines the social landscape. Hubbard (2011) discusses this
manifestation within the development of city structures in which gender attributes integrate with
the city’s planning. Defined in the infrastructural and environmental matters, it also includes
social aspects. Depicting gender in the changing environment is delving into the regional
diversities such as gender contracts, structures, and conceptual grounding. Sexuality influences
tourism and space manipulation within the cities of the world. This is evident in the normative
and urban geographies. Everyday people move and exist within the familiar and unfamiliar
landscapes. Gender landscape attributes are visible in daily views and topographies. It defines
who belongs where and why they exist in that space. Intersectional gender in the Canadian
geography refers to the human geographical setting. It describes the environment created by
people in terms of buildings and infrastructure as well as the social behavior in the environment.
It is the connection between landscape, people, nature and space. Toronto as Canada’s capital
city has a distinct urban geography that distinguishes it from other cities of the world. The clear
manifestation of gender in cultural, political and economic elements defines it geography.
Gender equity reflected within the commercial and residential buildings define the habitation and
accommodation. The city’s development ensures accessibility and inclusion. The spatial
modelling gives priority to economic factors because it is an economic hub. Evident in its
planning it shows the inclusion of public entertainment centers that cater for men and women.
The inclusion of social centers such as clubs contributes to sex tourism. Although it is unethical,
citizens from neighboring US consider Toronto as one of the destination for prostitution. Toronto
is also a popular destination for married couples from all parts of the world. The city’s attractions

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include hotels, galleries, islands and facilities. Its Entertainment District has performing arts
centers for honeymooners and Distillery Districts for both men and women. The architectural
psychology shapes the interaction and collective and individual identity factors in the
environment. In order to accommodate for travelers, the city has a subway system that facilitates
for faster transportation. The universalization of Toronto as a global city includes gender focused
space allocations such as sex shops and bars to cater for the modern demands. The liberalist
approach to development gives men and women access to space ownership. The city settlements
has apartments for singles, bachelors and family. Toronto’s cultural landscape shows some areas
designated for masculinity such as sports centers. This means that the structures of these social
amenities represent a form of masculinity. Demographics indicate that the number of women in
Toronto is higher, hence the high rise in apartments and late night food joints. Demographic
trends reveal gender influence in spatial development. The integration of gender in development
geography includes the creation of gender places such as washrooms in accordance to social
norms. These spatial patterns of development shape the standards of living creating differences
in economic capabilities within the gender groups. Sustainable development creates a future for
the present and future genders through employment creation and improved literacy. Variations in
the Toronto gender development shows a higher rate of wealth creation for men. Although both
genders have access to education, there is still a challenge for women in the economic and
political institutions. Women have a bigger role in raising the family hence the high rate of
women working from home. These challenges contribute to income inequalities in Toronto.
Changes in the structural systems continue to recognize the gender trends in Toronto influenced
by the national system and its localities. Power structures shows predominance on men despite
the feminist’s higher population. The manifestation of masculinity in the Toronto system shows

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Westernization in domestic and business planning, design and engagement. Causes of urban
poverty in Toronto is due to numerous factors, including urban restructuring, political
participation and access to income generating platforms. Modern cities like Toronto have to deal
with gender in emotional geographies, public space, urban and domestic space differences.
Gender elements continue to influence the geographical landscape in Toronto. Gender
characterizes the city citizenship and family policies in Toronto. The use of structural policies in
governance systems creates a balance in gender identities within the urban space.
Figure 1: Toronto Eaton Center showing gender spatial units with salons, barbers and clothing units
(Law, 2017)
Diversity in the Toronto geography captures the masculine and feminine experiences
through social settings. Socially created regionalism separates Toronto’s urban dwellings into
different places. Sports center and social groups in Toronto reveal the existence of diverse gender
affiliations. The sexual diversity environment in Toronto includes gay villages, which have
churches and events. The legalization of the same sex marriages shows an increasing number
within the social settings. Entertainment centers cater for all these groups.in 2014, Toronto was
the host for the World Pride, which involved gays, bisexuals and transgender communities from
around the globe. The WorldPride event displaying cultural events, parades and celebrations of

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the groups is an annual event that places the host city at the center of global tourism. As a result,
city planners and the tourism department work in collaboration with this multi-sexual group to
ensure the success of the multimillion-dollar event. This diversity also includes men and women
from different races. The trend goes beyond the metropolitan city with crowded spaces as it also
affects suburbs like East York, Etobicoke and Scarborough. Private learning institutions have
segmentation for boys and girls. The work environment also shows gender regression, which is
an equality problem. This defines the labor, business and organization environments. Sex
diversities influences the Toronto urban geography. The presence of immigrants in leisure and
workspaces also defines the city’s geography. Diversity showing the new connectivity also
redefines fender roles, feminism, and new attitudes. This modernity raises urban politics and
intergenerational practices within Toronto’s space. Feminism influences the socio political in
public centers like shopping malls, markets, galleries and theatres because of the global factor.
Art pieces showing icons in the male and female groups feature in homes and city spaces.
Diversity in the gender roles is a blend of traditionalism and modernity. Modern activities such
women working in the office and running businesses continues to influence the use of the urban
space. The patio garden gives women the freedom to own small gardens and express their
aesthetic abilities. The redefined gender roles influence land use and development projects in
Toronto. For example, the development of residential units and childcare incorporates school and
health care units to cater for family needs. Citizenship as a contemporary concept involves
natives and nonnatives dwellers of Canada. The merger of different cultures from within, and
outside Canada creates a conglomerate of transnational gender networks in Toronto. Canada’s
multicultural policy allows for changes in the human geography and changes in gender
diversities. Women and women get married to resident citizens causing a fusion of cultural roles.

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This creates opportunities and challenges as minority and majority cultures redefine norms.
Gender violence is one of the major concerns in Toronto. Its increase has led to more
organizations championing the rights of women. The differences in norms and gender definitions
causes conflicts of interest. Globalization causes new dimensions with the creation of gender
spaces like hair salons and barbershops for African American, Asian and European hairstyles.
The racial integration also influences the development of cultural restaurants and clothing stores.
This also leads to an influx of homeless immigrants seeking for greener pastures and citizenship.
Toronto’s gender and geography includes technology influences from the internet. Online dating
sites influence intermarriages and relationships. This redefines privacy, security, social
relationships and class relationships. The urban environment is a busy hub for both men and
women. Gender affects city politics and Canada has common global issues such as feminism,
equality and gender roles. Women in Toronto have fought for equal opportunities through global
and regional forums. The contribution has led to improvements in working conditions, better
salaries, job opportunities and inclusion in leadership for women.
Figure 2: View of Toronto’s Rogers Center-sporting arena for feminine/masculine sports (Law, 2017)
The critics of gender geography point at its challenges including its reliance on social and
psychological factors, which limits its scope. The concept ignores other factors, which are

gender and the city 7
important in geographical analysis. Gender is a subsector of the wider socio cultural geography.
Globalization is also a major influencer, which has redefined the gender factor. Technology and
migration continues to create gender roles in Canada (Hubbard, 2011). Toronto is at the center
stage because of its city status. In an urban setting, economic factors influence major changes in
a geographical setting. City dwellers in Toronto mainly live in the city because of economic
activities. Immigrants travel to the Canada for jobs and better living standards. The influence of
gender classification in spatial development is also to blame for inequalities. Gender identity also
causes bias and threats to freedom caused by the new gender identity laws. The introduction of
gender-neutral passports as a solution to gender disparities is cause for debate amongst the
traditionalist in Toronto. Culture also plays a significant role in human geography and gender is
part of it. Feminism covers most of gender and landscape because women of the emotional
geography and spatial developments. It features in political and urban geography because of
inequalities and policy changes. The intertwined aspects reduce gender to a sub segment of the
larger context. This creates a wide field of inquiry for researchers in cultural geography and its
fields. The combination of gender and urban ecology involves sexuality issues, social
segregation, traditional and modern developments. Toronto’s urban morphology describes its
functions, layout and formation of streets. The incorporation of gender events and social joints
brings out spatial patriarchy and private space. When looking at the Toronto case, structuralism
takes a center stage in urban geography. It is difficult to overlook some factors when referring to
gender landscape. Ethnicity, race, heritage, sexuality and new cultural geography emerge under
this discussion because landscape affects people living within an environment. The people and
place factors defined by geopolitics influence the trends in cities. Toronto contributes to human
geographic studies of population, spatial studies, fertility and demographic transitions. Travel

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and tourism highlights Toronto among world cities with a transitional gender history. This brings
out the social construction caused by emerging theories of transgender and gay practices. It also
captures morbidity, fertility and transnationalism also covered under gender landscape. Critics of
gender express the undeniable fact about nature, which considers the natural role of female and
male species. According to natural philosophers, masculinity has a natural empowerment that
feminism cannot deny. It identifies the family, as comprising of male and female beings hence
the new gender landscapes is a façade. Differences between urban and rural geographies are
more than the gender perspectives. It includes the physical geography, environmental, economic,
health, transport, social and historical among others. The distinguishing factors feature within the
core geographical concepts and gender cannot fully summarize. City or place geography looks at
how people shape the landscape in terms of the development, economic activities and land use.
This may have aspects of gender but also includes the role of media in influencing cultural
practices. Therefore, human geography stands out as a multidimensional subject with numerous
fields, which shape and define the landscape. Studies about people and the environment is
dynamic and wide. It comprises of multiple disciplines broken into sub segments.
Figure 3: Gender and space campaigns in urban political space

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References
Hubbard, P. (2011). Cities and Sexualities ( Routledge critical introductions to urbanism and the
city). Routledge.
Law, L. (2017, September 21). 15 Top-rated tourist attractions in Toronto. Retrieved from
planetware.com: http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/toronto-cdn-on-ont.htm