Women and planning: a rhizomatic movement in urbanism

Source abstract

This article examines the women and planning movement through Deleuze and Guattari’s rhizome concept, a metaphor for non-linear, decentralised forms of growth. It argues that gender-sensitive place-making emerges through interconnected networks rather than hierarchical systems. Drawing on both macro-level characteristics and illustrative examples, the article reframes the movement as dynamic, pattern-generating systems that evolve collaboratively across local and global contexts. Rather than a unified programme, it is understood as a constellation of actors, practices and knowledges unfolding across diverse geographies. The article further suggests that a rhizomatic approach offers not only an analytical lens but also a methodological orientation for co-producing more just and equitable urban futures.