Gendered Patterns of Public Space Use: An Architectural Analysis of U.S. Cities

Abstract

Public spaces in contemporary U.S. cities are often described as neutral and universally accessible; however, patterns of uneven use and exclusion persist across gender and social groups. While existing research has examined these disparities through social, cultural, and behavioral lenses, the role of architectural design itself in producing such outcomes remains insufficiently articulated. This paper addresses that gap by examining how specific spatial design decisions influence gendered patterns of occupation, comfort, visibility, and participation in public urban environments. Through an architectural analysis of public spaces in multiple urban contexts within the United States, the study evaluates how design variables—including spatial configuration, seating typologies, circulation paths, scale, and degrees of enclosure—shape user behavior and perception. Drawing on direct observation and comparative spatial assessment, the research demonstrates that these architectural elements systematically affect how different groups engage with public space. Rather than treating inequitable use as an external social condition, the findings show that architectural form actively structures inclusion and exclusion within the built environment. The paper contributes an architectural framework for evaluating public space performance through the lens of inclusivity. By translating observed patterns of use into design-based criteria, the research establishes a method for assessing how spatial decisions influence equity and accessibility within U.S. urban public spaces. This framework provides architects and urban designers with a structured approach for identifying design conditions that discourage participation and for understanding how relatively modest spatial adjustments can meaningfully improve public space performance. By reframing gendered experience as an architectural issue, this work advances design-based discourse on equity in public space and positions architecture as an active tool for shaping inclusive urban environments. The framework developed through this study is applicable beyond individual sites and offers a transferable method for evaluating public spaces across diverse American urban contexts.