How Gender Shapes Youth Perspectives on the Health Impacts of Urban Design in High-Rise Environments

Abstract

This thesis investigates how urban design in high-rise neighborhoods shapes adolescent health, with a particular focus on gendered experiences. Guided by an adapted framework from the CIP Healthy Communities guide and using the Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) lens, the study identified neighborhood spaces where youth engage in health-related activities and examined how gender influences youth perceptions of urban design and its impact on physical, mental, and social well-being. A participatory qualitative methodology was employed, involving 22 adolescents also described as youth or teens aged 13–18, from two Ontario cities using ‘go-along’ interviews and participant-directed photography. Thematic and content analysis revealed that parks, recreational centers, and urban public spaces serve as key sites for youth health engagement. Boys reported greater ease accessing sports and outdoor spaces, often taking safety and mobility for granted, while girls expressed heightened concern over sanitation, environmental stressors, and personal safety. These findings demonstrate how gender and spatial design intersect to create unequal health experiences for adolescents. The study calls for gender-responsive urban planning that centers youth voices and promotes inclusive, safe, and accessible high-rise environments that support holistic adolescent well-being.