Exploring women's roles in urban sustainability: A study of gender equality initiatives in Antalya, Türkiye

The 21st century is a period marked by challenges such as land degradation, resource scarcity, wars, crises, earthquakes, migrations and social and spatial inequalities, all of which disproportionately affect disadvantaged groups, including women. These challenges underscore the critical role of local governments in addressing gender equality within the framework of urban sustainability. This study examines the position of women in urban sustainability through the lens of Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), which focuses on gender equality, by analyzing the approaches and actions of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality over a 10-year period (2014–2023). Using systematic review and comparative analysis methods with MAXQDA, the study evaluates the municipality's activity reports to assess how women are addressed in the social, physical/environmental, and economic dimensions of urban sustainability. The findings reveal that while significant progress has been made in addressing women's social needs, there is a lack of consistency and integration across the physical and economic dimensions. This imbalance highlights the need for a more holistic and interconnected approach to urban sustainability that empowers women as active participants in shaping the city. The study emphasizes the importance of bridging gaps between policy and practice, ensuring consistent implementation of gender-sensitive initiatives, and expanding efforts to address systemic inequalities in urban planning and governance. By adopting a more inclusive and integrated strategy, local governments can create equitable and sustainable urban environments where women play a central role in driving change. This research contributes to the growing body of literature on gender equality in urban sustainability and provides a framework for local governments to critically assess and improve their efforts in achieving SDG 5.

Keywords: Urban sustainability, gender equality, local governments, urban policy, Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5).