ABSTRACT
Therelationshipbetweenspaceandgenderhasformedanimportant focusofwomen'sstudiesinsociology,architecture,andgeography(for example,MATRIX1984).Itisausefulstarting-pointinconsideringthe genderednatureofpowerwhich,throughcontroloverthebuiltenvironment,determinespersonalmobilityandaccesstosocialandeconomic resources.Oftenfeministapproachestospacehaveemphasized'gender domains',inwhichmenandwomenhaveseparateareasofworkand influence(Ardener1981).Thesedomainshavebeencategorizedasa dichotomybetweenmenandwomen,inwhichmeninhabitapublicdomain andwom:enareconfinedtotheprivatedomainofthehousehold(Fowler 1984).Earlystudiesofwomenandspaceattackedthis'domesticdomain' asamaterialexpressionofwomen'ssubordination,onewhichhelpsto determinetheirisolation;marginalizationandlackofstatus(Hirschon1985: 15).Thisnegativecharacterizationofspacehasremainedimbeddedin thefeministconsciousness,exemplifiedbythecommentsoftheFrench philosopherLuceIrigaray:
Fromthedepthsoftheearthtothevastexpanseofheaven,time andtimeagainherobsfemininityofthetissueortextureofher spatiality.Inexchange,thoughitneverisone,hebuysherahouse, shutsherupinit,andplaceslimitsonher.
