Problem Statement: Despite the recognized significance of gender justice in urban studies, this concept remains marginal within mainstream development policies. In the Iranian context, existing research has predominantly focused on describing spatial inequalities rather than interrogating the discursive mechanisms inherent in the planning system. The central problem of this research is the lack of a robust conceptual framework for analyzing gender justice in planning documents, alongside the ambiguity regarding its position in urban discourses. Specifically, while “Urban Justice” is frequently invoked as a central nodal point, its boundaries of inclusivity remain ill-defined concerning the lived gendered experiences of citizens and the structural inequalities emerging from them.
Research Objective: The primary objective of this study is to formulate a conceptual framework for “Space-Based Gender Justice” and analyze its representation within the discourse of the Fourth Progress Plan of Tehran (2022–2025).
Methodology: This study first developed a “Space-Based Gender Justice” framework using an analytical-deductive approach grounded in feminist spatial theories. We then utilized this framework to analyze the discursive articulation of the Fourth Progress Plan—treated as a meaning-producing policy text—by applying the discourse theory of Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe.
Conclusion: Findings reveal that the Plan’s discourse is structured around “Urban Justice” as a nodal point. However, this is articulated primarily within a physical-distributive framework, emphasizing infrastructure and managerial efficiency. Consequently, core components of space-based gender justice—such as women’s mobility patterns linked to the gendered division of labor, daily public space experiences, and social inclusivity—are largely absent. When mentioned, they are recoded into generic, gender-neutral signifiers like “security” and “family.” Thus, gender justice is not addressed as an independent demand; instead, through discursive mechanisms of de-gendering and marginalization, it is excluded from the “chain of equivalence” of urban justice. This proves that a technocratic-economic paradigm continues to dominate Tehran’s planning, necessitating a