Bridging the Gap: The Gendered Impact of Infrastructure on Well-Being Through Capability and Subjective Well-Being Approaches

This research situates urban planning as a social well-being determinant, highlighting that cities function as social habitats that shape individuals’ quality of life, as well as being physical spaces. The study emphasises the dangers of inadequate urban management, particularly when it is based on biased or incomplete information. This has the potential to exacerbate inequality and undermine the benefits of urbanisation. The present study focuses on the intersection of gender, social roles, and access to basic infrastructure, including childcare centres, elderly facilities, healthcare services, pedestrian paths, street lighting, and green areas. By addressing this critical urban issue, namely the uneven distribution of opportunities for well-being, the study contributes to the existing body of knowledge in this field. The Capability Approach, developed primarily by Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum, provides a theoretical framework for evaluating individuals’ freedom to pursue the lives they value. Theories of subjective well-being (SWB) are rooted in psychological and economic traditions that assess individuals’ life satisfaction, happiness, and emotional equilibrium The present study proposes a methodological framework that integrates the Capability Approach with Subjective Well-Being theory. This approach facilitates a more comprehensive measurement of citizens’ well-being, transcending the limitations of traditional gender dichotomies. The study identifies the manner in which infrastructural design affects individual capabilities and demonstrates the manner in which urban policies can foster gender equality and inclusive socio-economic development. It is therefore evident that the research provides urban planners and policymakers with actionable insights by demonstrating that equitable infrastructure provision is a cornerstone of sustainable, socially just urban development.