JL
WOMEN MOVING PEOPLE
The Book Concept
At 19, in between my time reading the book More Than Just Race by William Julius Wilson, and biking back and forth between my university in South Louisiana and my residence, I recognized how American transportation infrastructure tends to be extremely car-driven. Wilson argues that the advent of the highway and its structural factors led to steering marginalized, disadvantaged communities out of every day opportunities. After researching this topic in my undergraduate thesis, this proved to be a true issue in South Louisiana, but I also recognized that this issue likely spreads across the entire United States. Following my undergraduate degree, I searched for innovative ways to solve the issue. Over the course of my years in academia, and years in the industry as a planner, I have dedicated my life to finding ways to help disadvantaged communities better access things they need in their day to day life.
In my time in the profession and in academia, I experienced significant challenges and setbacks. Many of which have been blind to the public view. Women as a whole tend to bear the brunt of emotional distress and trauma in our industry, and are considered a minority. Women make up 25% of the transportation industry, yet nationwide, 50.5% of individuals identify as women. While we make up half of the population, our engineers, planners, and policymakers in the profession primarily represent the way men travel through and design cities. Women are typically the ones worrying about childcare, trips to school for drop off and pick up, and are also the ones caring for our family members that are sick, disabled, and elderly. They are the ones caring for our most vulnerable users on roads, transit, and cities. In short, women think differently when it comes to cities and transportation. Yet, the makeup of our industry looks at our systems with a different lens.
In male dominated industries, women tend to experience a wide range of personal and professional struggles. From sexual assault and harassment, to stalking, challenges moving up the ranks at companies, and navigating the world of parenthood and having a career. Many of which I find myself navigating regularly.
This book focuses on women in the transportation, planning, architecture, engineering and design industries that are moving people to tell their stories, and women that are inspiring our communities to advance change, justice, and mental well-being. Each chapter tells a different story from my own personal journey or other women in the Architecture Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. Each chapter written by someone other than myself shares their personal journey of moving people emotionally, and physically.
Women are on the move. And we are moving people.
Interested in contributing your story as a chapter of the book? Connect with Joan.
Want to read the book? Check back on this page for updates on publishing.
Chapter 1 - Welcome to the Industry
Chapter 2 - The Awakening
Chapter 4 - A Day Traveling By Transit