In the pursuit of improving the living conditions of urban inhabitants, various attempts have been made in Latin America in the planning and management process. However, few have done so in an integral manner, considering the diversity of actors involved in this process. In this sense, the concept of quality of life, based on its apprehension of the subjective and objective dimensions of reality, provides an innovative way of diagnosing, assessing and proposing alternatives to improve the living conditions of men and women in these areas. Based on the findings of the research project "Quality of Life and Gender", conducted in the Community of Pudahuel in Santiago, Chile, the article explains the theoretical and methodological processes used to analyze quality of life in low-income settlements. It illustrates the way in which the perceptions of quality of life can be translated into indices and it refers to the perceived differences between men and women. It intends to manifest why the planning and management processes must recognize, amongst other, the gender differences. This paper first introduces the conceptual background relating the triad of quality of life, urban environment and gender. This theory is then translated into an operative methodology that combines quantitative as well as qualitative techniques to evaluate quality of life. It then explains the cross-analysis of the various objective and subjective factors affecting men and women's quality of life in the specific case study. These factors are then converted info quality of life indices, which are suggested to be used both by local authorities and by the urban residents themselves in the planning management process.
Author Biographies
Giulietta Fadda, Universidad de Valparaíso
Arquitecta, Planificadora Urbana, PhD., Académica de la Facultad de Arquitectura, Universidad de Valparaíso
Paola Jirón Martínez, Universidad de Chile
Bcomm, MSc, Académica del Instituto de la Vivienda, Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo, Universidad de Chile
Fadda, G., Jirón Martínez, P., & Bilbao, M. de los Ángeles. (2000). Quality of Life Assessment from a Bifocal “Environment-Gender” Perspective. The Case of a Neighborhood Located in Santiago. Revista INVI, 15(39). https://doi.org/10.5354/0718-8358.2000.62106
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