From “What is Gender?” to “Not My Job”: Institutional Barriers and A Framework to Mainstream Gender in Transportation Planning

Gender mainstreaming aims to achieve gender equality by transforming organizational practices and eliminating biases. This paper examines the aspirations and readiness of local transport planning institutions to mainstream gender considerations into their policies and processes. Specifically, I ask, how do policy makers and transport planners interpret and approach gender mainstreaming in cities in the Global South, and how does integrating “gender” alter the existing planning institutional practices (if at all)? Through an institutional ethnography of Panchkula Municipal Corporation, involving document analysis, in-depth interviews with planning actors and stakeholders, and observation-based methods, this paper highlights the difficulties local institutions face in transitioning toward a gender-sensitive planning paradigm. The findings indicated that transportation planning in Panchkula is the product of an informal institution, in which both formal rules and informal practices shape transport infrastructure investments. Without a strong policy commitment to gender mainstreaming, existing inequalities persist. Interviews revealed problematic attitudes, ranging from ambivalence about why gender mainstreaming is important to dismissive “not my job” attitudes rooted in patriarchal norms hindering daily planning practices in Panchkula. Additionally, a lack of gender training and male dominance in planning institutions negatively affected planning methods and outcomes. The paper proposes a conceptual framework linking the identified barriers to the practice of transportation planning, highlighting potential areas for intervention to effectively mainstream gender in transportation. To operationalize change, a polycentric approach to gender mainstreaming, involving coordinated interventions across multiple fronts and different levels of governance is recommended.