ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the concerns women have about the quality of life in urban environments, and the role women play in the decisionmaking process in one Canadian city: London, Ontario. It is based on research conducted during 1975 for one of a series of studies commissioned by the Ministry of State for Urban Affairs as its contribution to the Canadian government’s program for International Women’s Year. The composition of City Council determines the makeup of the standing committees of council: Land Use and Development; Social and Community Services; Streets, Traffic, and Transportation; and Environment and Protection Services. The concerns that have been identified and the relatively low level of participation in decisionmaking indicate clearly that women have a great deal of ground to make up if they wish to reshape the environment to better suit their needs and desires. The traditional roles assigned to women effectively limit the opportunities for women’s involvement in any outside activity.
