Publications

Burgess, A. & Jin, J. (2026). SIWIP – The FeminiNE1: A Case Study Analysis of Gender Inclusivity in Newcastle’s Planning Policy and Practice. Town Planning Review. DOI

The FeminiNE1 examines whether female-dominated planning departments produce more gender-inclusive urban policy, using Newcastle upon Tyne as a case study. Through policy review, a participatory gender walk, and expert interviews, the authors found persistent barriers around safety, accessibility, toilets, and breastfeeding provision. Professional cultures prioritising technical rationality over social equity continue to reproduce gendered bias, regardless of who occupies leadership roles. The paper calls for gender-mainstreaming to be embedded in national planning frameworks, arguing structural reform — not representation — is the necessary lever for change.

Zhu, M., Jin, J., Grimshaw, L., (2025). Urban Gendered Spaces: A Spatial Perspective to Sexual Crimes. 33rd Annual GIS Research UK Conference (GISRUK). University of Bristol, UK. DOI

This study investigates the spatial distribution of sexual crimes in the West End of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, an area characterised by ethnic diversity, high crime rates and economic deprivation. Using spatial analysis, the research identifies crime hotspots and reveals that spaces adjacent to barbershops and grocery stores are particularly vulnerable. These locations, associated with higher ethnic diversity and evolving social dynamics, have transitioned into male-dominated gathering spaces, correlating with patterns of gender-based offences. The findings offer critical insights into the relationship between urban socio-cultural dynamics and crime, contributing to strategies for enhancing urban safety and fostering community resilience.

Jin, J. (2024). Gender Mainstreaming in Urban Public Spaces: Exploring Planning Strategies of Women-friendly Cities via Gender Equity Walks (GEWs). Women and Planning: From theory to practice. Leeds Beckett University, UK.

This research develops a walking audit method based on acquired knowledge and evaluates the effectiveness and limitations of the participatory GEW approach through implementation, analysis, and collaborative design discussions. Post-walk workshops and expert interviews capture participants’ perspectives on GEWs and their ideas for women-friendly urban environments. Drawing on urban design and sociological insights, the study critically assesses existing conditions in Newcastle and proposes gender-inclusive spatial strategies. The findings offer practical recommendations for using GEWs to improve public spaces and streets, enhancing women’s inclusion, safety, and enjoyment.

Jin, J. (2024). Navigating Integration: Implementing Intersectional and Culturally Sensitive Strategies for Gender-Inclusive Planning. Women designing and planning for social equality, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland. DOI

This paper examines intersectional and culturally sensitive gender-inclusive planning in Newcastle’s West End, addressing gendered security concerns and multicultural dynamics in urban spaces and services. Grounded in feminist geography and using a qualitative, participatory GIS approach, the study explores the temporal and spatial patterns of everyday life while empowering marginalised groups through collaborative mapping. The findings reveal how gendered spatial divisions shape women’s and girls’ experiences of urban public spaces, bridging feminist urban geography and spatial planning to amplify their voices and inform more inclusive urban design.

Jin, J., Huang, K. Zhu, M., (2023). Engendering the City: A Participatory Approach to Gender-Responsive Planning and Urban Design in Cairo. In Urban Poetics and Politics in Contemporary South Asia and the Middle East. IGI Global. DOI

As part of the ‘Gender-inclusive Cities’ research project, this study adopts a participatory approach as a tool for women’s empowerment to promote bottom-up models of planning, dissolving gendered norms, and improving women’s status in a patriarchal society. The book chapter provides an example of localised gender-inclusive design addressing women’s spatial sensibilities and connecting them to the broader objectives of participation and emancipation. The findings of this study can help planners and policy makers co-create safer public spaces for local women, reduce spatial inequality, and facilitate their right to the city.

Jin, J., Bertolino, N., Huang, K., (2022).  In the XXIX International Seminar on Urban Form. ISUF 2022 Urban Redevelopment and Revitalisation. A Multidisciplinary Perspective. Łódź University of Technology Press. Poland. DOI

This research explores gender walks as a knowledge-gathering method in urban planning and design within the field of gender-sensitive design. Acknowledging the complexity of intersectional gender-aware planning, it examines walking as a simple yet effective strategy. By comparing three exploratory walk practices, the study develops a walking audit method and tests its potential and limitations through implementation, analysis, and co-designed responses with participants. Drawing on urban design and sociological perspectives, the findings inform and critically support the City Centre Transformation Programme, aiming to enhance women’s inclusion, safety, and enjoyment of public spaces.