Gendered Spaces

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In numerous businesses, secretaries, predominantly women, perform clerical tasks in "open floor" environments, while managers, typically men, operate behind closed doors. Daphne Spain argues that this setup exemplifies how physical segregation perpetuates women's inequality. Her work reveals how barriers separating men and women in various settings hinder women's access to valuable knowledge that enhances their status. Spain begins by examining the separation or integration of genders in nonindustrial societies, then shifts focus to the United States, analyzing spatial changes since the mid-nineteenth century and their correlation with women's status. For instance, as divisions within middle-class homes have lessened, women have gained voting rights and property control. Similarly, the increasing integration of sexes in educational institutions has expanded resources and career opportunities for women. However, traditional segregation patterns still dominate workplaces. Through floor plans and relevant images of homes, schools, and workplaces, Spain's work uncovers the often-overlooked spaces where daily gender segregation occurs, both historically and in contemporary contexts.