Infrastructure is the basic physical and organizational systems a society needs to function, such as roads, bridges, power lines, water systems, and communication networks. It also includes services and structures that support daily life and the economy.
It comes from Latin “infra” (below) and “structura” (a building or structure). The word suggests the “underlying structure” that supports everything else.
Infrastructure is like a city’s skeleton and nervous system combined—mostly invisible until something breaks. When you flip a light switch or open a tap, you’re depending on miles of hidden infrastructure. The word reminds us that modern life rests on huge, shared systems we rarely think about.
Infrastructure planning has historically centered male-dominated sectors (roads, heavy industry) while undervaluing social and care infrastructure where women often predominate. Gendered assumptions have shaped whose needs are prioritized in design.
When discussing infrastructure, include social, digital, and care infrastructures and consider how design affects people of different genders and roles (e.g., caregivers, night workers).
Acknowledge women’s roles in advocating for inclusive infrastructure (e.g., safe transit, water access, childcare facilities) that support broad participation.
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