Women, Walking: Notes on Lives in Motion - Paperback

by Zahra Ebrahim (Editor), Jane Farrow (Editor)

An anthology about moving through the world on foot - as a woman.

Women, Walking explores the broad spectrum of women's experiences and perspectives on walking, from everyday strolls that let the mind breathe to ambitious journeys that test courage and resolve.

Co-edited by Zahra Ebrahim and Jane Farrow, this anthology features thirty vignettes, essays, graphic art, poems, and interviews, with contributors discussing identity, love, social connection, grief, and wonder. They each take us on a different path, but share common ground in highlighting the deep significance to be found in an ordinary walk.

The contributors come from all walks of life; among them are Jenny Odell, Miriam Toews, Andrea Gibson, Zalika Reid-Benta, Janika Oza, Ann-Marie MacDonald, and Catherine Hernandez. Whether they take you on a meander or a hike, a parade or a promenade, they all offer relatable and insightful reflections on walking to lose yourself, find yourself, and everything in between.

Author Biography

Zahra Ebrahim is a seasoned leader and advocate with two decades of experience bringing communities to the center of decision making. This has included redesigning systems and services essential to the public's wellbeing, with the goal of making cities work for residents who face the most acute barriers. Throughout her career, she has used walking as an instrument of social change, research, and connection, including as the Chair of the global Jane's Walk festival. She currently co-leads Monumental, a national organization focused on projects that advance fair and culturally considerate citybuilding. She is an Urbanist-in-Residence at the University of Toronto's School of Cities and the co-editor of Messy Cities (Coach House Books, 2025). Zahra lives in Toronto with her partner, and their whippet, Zada.

Jane Farrow is a writer, broadcaster and dynamic interviewer, and facilitator who has dedicated herself to city and community building over several decades. She has written many articles and co-edited books, including Any Other Way, a queer history anthology of Toronto (Coach House Books, 2017), The Book of Lists (Knopf Canada, 2017 & 2005), and Wanted Words 1 and 2 (Stoddart). Her ten years at CBC Radio included producing and hosting for current affairs programs such as This Morning, And Sometimes Y, and Workology. Jane was the founding executive director of Jane's Walk, a global initiative involving free, locally-led walking tours inspired by urbanist Jane Jacobs's ideas about connected, livable neighbourhoods. She currently lives in Toronto.