Women's Lived Experiences and Perceptions of Representation And

Women’s Lived Experiences and Perceptions of Representation and Identity in Urban Space; A Case Study of Liverpool, UK Thesis submitted in accordance with the requirements of the University of Liverpool for the degree of Doctor in Philosophy by Kimberley May Ross August 2016 Abstract Women’s lived experiences and perceptions of representations and identity in urban space; A case study of Liverpool UK This thesis considers the lived experiences that women have in urban space, with a particular focus on how the space is represented and the impact that this can have on the identity of the space and those who use the space. Lefebvre (1974, 1976 & 2003) drew attention to the tensions that exist between elite visions of space and more ‘everyday’ interpretations and uses, arguing that those behind the production and development of urban space have their own motivations for wanting the spaces to be represented in a particular way. Often these representations reflect gendered and classed stereotypes and wider divisions in society (Zukin 1993 & 1995; Massey 2004; Skeggs 2005; Longhurst et al 2014). This thesis will demonstrate how these representations of urban spaces can create and reflect gendered divisions that occur in wider society and how these can also intersect with class. Of particular relevance to this thesis are the notions of cultural and symbolic capital (Bourdieu 1986) and how these can be portrayed and reflected through the representations of space and spatial practices (Lefebvre 1974). The combination of these theoretical concepts is novel. Both these theorists have been used in discussions around identity, and representations and experiences within urban space. However, the amalgamation of key aspects of both theories allows for an original interpretation of women’s lived experiences and perceptions of representations and identity in urban space. Liverpool, UK and the privatised development of Liverpool One (which opened in 2008) have been used as the case study for this research and a sample of twenty women who were local to Liverpool were recruited. The case study was chosen because of the recent change to the ownership of the space and the drastic changes that the space underwent. It therefore provided a unique opportunity to explore how such changes affect the cultural capital of space and those who use the space as well as the conflict between the representations of space and spatial practise that create and contribute to the symbolic capital of the space. Walking interviews alongside cognitive mapping and photograph elicitation were used to explore the everyday lived experiences of local women. Taking the standpoint that social construction is crucial in the representations associated with urban space, this thesis will argue that in the case of Liverpool, the shift from public to private ownership of the space which is now Liverpool One has contributed to social boundaries and inequality in terms of the lived experiences of those who use the space. This is highlighted through the gendered representations that become associated with the space and the juxtapositions that are felt by local women who use the space in an everyday setting. i Dedication At the beginning of my PhD journey my brother Joe was involved in a serious accident which very nearly took him from us and left him in a coma with a severe brain injury. Reading back through this work in preparation for submission has brought back many memories of some very difficult times spent sitting in hospital waiting rooms trying to balance hospital visits alongside reading and writing. I would like to dedicate this work to Joe in acknowledgement for all his hard work and determination over the past five years throughout his recovery and rehabilitation. Acknowledgements Firstly, I would like to thank my supervisors, Dr Paul Jones and Dr Roy Coleman for their support and patience throughout this PhD. I would also like to thank Paul for his encouragement throughout my master’s degree which inspired the research for this thesis. This research was funded by the Brenda Thomas Bursary, for which I am very grateful. Thank you to the staff at the Department of Sociology, Criminology and Social Policy at the University of Liverpool for your extended support throughout this PhD. I am very proud to have been a student within this department. Thank you to my fellow PhD students, especially Sarah, Natalie and Aiden for sharing in the ups and downs of the PhD process. Special thanks go to all the participants who gave up their time to take part in this research. The data collection was by far my favourite part of this process and I enjoyed talking to all of you about your experiences. My parents, brother and extended family and friends have given me so much support and encouragement throughout my PhD for which I am incredibly grateful. Extra special thanks have to go to my Mum for proof-reading! I would also like to thank my Husband Tyler for being there for me in one way or another over the past five years. Finally I would like to thank my friends and colleagues at the Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University for their encouragement throughout the final stages of this PhD. ii Declaration This thesis is the result of my own work. The material contained in the thesis has not been presented, nor is currently being presented, either wholly or in part for any other degree or qualification. iii Contents i. Abstract i ii. Dedication and Acknowledgements ii iii. Declaration iii iv. Contents iv. v. List of Tables and Images vii Chapter 1. Introduction 1 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Context of Research 1 1.2 Research Methodology 5 1.3 Research Questions and Objectives 6 Chapter 2. Literature Review – The Urban Experience 8 2. Introduction 8 2.1 The Socially Constructed City 10 2.2 Social and Economic Tensions in Urban Space 16 2.3 Tensions Regarding the ‘Image’ within Urban Space 20 2.4 Bourdieu and the City 25 2.5 Meaning, Experience and Urban Space 32 2.6 The ‘Right to the City’ 36 2.7 Conclusion 39 Chapter 3. Literature Review – Gender and the City 42 3. Introduction 42 3.1 The Body and Urban Space 45 3.2 Gendered Identities and Urban Space 50 3.3 Social Construction, Women and the City 63 3.4 Women’s Perception of Crime and Safety in the City 68 3.5 Conclusion 71 Chapter 4. Case Study – Liverpool, UK and Liverpool One 74 4. Introduction 74 4.1 An Overview of Relevant History and Previous Regeneration Efforts in Liverpool 77 4.2 The Liverpool One Development 83 4.3 Implications of the Privatisation of the Liverpool One Development 86 4.4 Liverpool and the Mass Media 92 iv 4.5 Conclusion 95 Chapter 5. Methodology – Researching Experiences and Representations in Urban Space 97 5. Introduction 97 5.1 Research Sample and Case Study 99 5.2 Research Methods 105 5.2.1 Walking Interviews 107 5.2.2 Cognitive Maps 110 5.2.3 Photography 114 5.3 The Research Process 120 5.4 Ethical Considerations 123 5.5 Considerations for Data Analysis 125 5.6 Conclusion 128 Chapter 6. Overview of Data 131 6. Introduction 131 6.1 Overview of Interview Themes 131 6.2 Overview of Cognitive Maps 135 6.3 Overview of Photographs 138 6.4 Conclusion 141 Chapter 7. Review of the ‘ONE Community Annual Review 2012’ 143 7. Introduction 143 7.1 ONE Community Strategy – Environment 145 7.2 ONE Community Strategy – Education and Employability 151 7.3 ONE Community Strategy – Community Involvement 156 7.4 ONE Community Strategy – The Way We Work 160 7.5 Conclusion 161 Chapter 8. Data – Physical and Social Boundaries in Urban Space 164 8. Introduction 164 8.1 Changes to Physical Boundaries After Regeneration: The impact of the Liverpool One Development of the Participants’ Perception of Boundaries 165 8.1.1 Liverpool City Centre and Perceived Boundaries 170 8.2 Social Boundaries in Urban Space 182 8.2.1 Social Boundaries and Social Capital 183 8.2.2 Boundaries and the ‘Right’ to Urban Space 185 v 8.2.3 Culture and Social Boundaries; the Example of Quiggins 190 8.3 Conclusion 193 Chapter 9. Data - Representations in City Spaces 196 9. Introduction 196 9.1 Representations and Lived Experiences 197 9.2 Representations of Exclusivity and Space 206 9.3 Representations and Architecture 212 9.4 Representations of Safety and Space 220 9.5 Conclusion 223 Chapter 10. Discussion of Data 227 10. Introduction 227 10.1 How do the participants experience and related to urban leisure space, and how are these processes gendered? 228 10.2 How do the participants relate their perceived cultural capital to urban spaces? 236 10.3 Do the participants believe that social boundaries exist within urban spaces and how are these related to gender and social class? 243 10.4 Conclusion 246 Chapter 11. Reflection and Conclusion 249 11. Introduction 249 11.1 Reflections on Data 250 11.2 Reflections on Research Methods 254 11.3 Reflections on my own Experiences and Perceptions 256 11.4 Implications from the Research 259 11.5 Conclusion 262 References 264 Appendices 1. Map of Liverpool and Map of Liverpool One 280 2. Consent Form 282 3. Participant Information Sheet 283 4. Participant Biographies 285 5. List of Conference presentations and Publications 286 vi List of Tables and Images Tables Table 1 – Themes for Walking Interviews Table 2 – Themes for Cognitive Maps Table 3 – Themes for Photographs Images Image 1 – Example of a Cognitive Map Image 2 – Example of a Cognitive Map Image 3 – Example of green space in Liverpool One Image 4 – Chavasse Park Image 5 – The Old Dock Image 6 – The Old Dock Image 7 – The Albert Dock Image 8 – The Albert Dock Image 9 – Link between Liverpool One and The Bluecoat Centre Image 10 – Closed Shop Front Image 11 – “This Store is Closed” Image 12 – The Hilton Hotel Image 13 – Quiggins Image 14 – Quiggins Image 15 – Keys Court Image 16 – South John St Image 17 – Pavement Keys Court Image 18 – The Radio City Tower Image 19 – The Liverpool Eye Image 20 – The Bluecoat Centre Image 21 – The Bluecoat Centre Image 22 – Liverpool One Car Park vii Chapter 1.

Load more