ASSOCIATION BETWEEN GENDER AND OPINION ABOUT SMART CITY

Purpose: The paper aims to provide new insights into the opinions of women and men about selected smart city areas. Design/methodology/approach: The study was conducted using CATI and CAWI methods, involving respondents from two Polish cities — Szczecin and Koszalin. The survey assessed participants' opinions of various aspects of smart cities through the analysis of four chosen areas. The analysis is based on quantitative data, where Chi-square test for independence was utilised. Findings: In Szczecin, the first hypothesis yielded significant relationships, indicating that the opinions of specific smart city areas are indeed influenced by residents' gender. In contrast, the data from Koszalin revealed two significant relationships, indicating that opinions may be more susceptible to gender-based variations. Research limitations/implications: A limitation of the study is that it is based solely on respondents from two cities, which may restrict its generalizability to other regions. The study is a pilot study. Future research could consider diverse locations, additional demographic factors, and an in-depth analysis of the relationship between gender and subjective opinions on various areas of smart cities. Practical implications: The findings of the study may be utilized by city managers in designing urban spaces that more effectively meet the diverse needs of women and men. Such an approach can contribute to increased acceptance of initiatives and greater resident satisfaction. Social implications: Incorporating a gender perspective into urban planning promotes more inclusive and informed decision-making, contributing to the development of spaces that meet the needs of all residents, thereby strengthening social cohesion and supporting sustainable development. Originality/value: The study provides an innovative perspective on the diverse perceptions of urban innovations by women and men, contributing to the literature on urban space management from a gender perspective and residents' quality of life.