The Symbolic Meaning of Spaces and Gender Messages:Women's Social Exclusion

Different methods of spatial zoning of houses built in different periods of history suggest that regardless of geographical factors, social- cultural contexts also contribute to the formation of meaning and functional connotations of a building. Undoubtedly, a house built in an era exceeds its instrumental role of providing a shelter and has a crucial role in identifying the norms of living in that era. Looking into the way a house is constructed offers us different opportunities for the observation of femininity/masculinity opposition in their structures, which in turn has a decisive role in the representation of gender identity.The present article aims at identifying gender subjects in dominant discourse, to discover the dual mechanisms of female/male representations and women’s exclusion and gender segregation of space in the architecture styles. Discussion follows: (1) how female body is controlled, excluded and represented as “other” in the spacing and zoning of the architecture styles. (2) Inspired by the writings of Foucault, private and public spaces are discussed in their relations to the state’s power to understand possible subversion of gendered spaces. Based on the review of the architectural style in the Qajar era; it seems introversive houses segregate genders and represent interior parts of the house as being female-oriented and the exterior parts as male-oriented, and the houses are designed to prepare women for their roles as mothers and housewives which in traditional discourse are considered their most important roles. Women who fail in carrying out their duties are excluded from social femininity. At present with patriarchal structure of society, women have limited access to public spaces, facilities and services. Therefore, it seems regulations to discipline space manifests itself in gender segregation and women social exclusion.