Overview

Gendered space isn't just about bathrooms - it’s a cultural artifact that regulates who belongs, who gets to feel safe, and who is rendered invisible. Through critical research and social justice frameworks, this paper examines:

  • How gendered expectations shape public and private space

  • The risks and barriers gender non-conforming people face in spatial design

  • How architecture reinforces (or can challenge) outdated gender binaries

I synthesized perspectives from human geography, architecture, gender studies, and first-person lived realities to propose design as a tool for healing - not just accommodation.

Key Insights

Gender Is Multidimensional
Gender identity, expression, and assigned sex are not interchangeable—and neither are people. Spatial design that assumes a binary model neglects the diversity of human experience.

Space Is Social Power
The public-private divide assigns power roles—public space for men, private for women—and leaves nonbinary and trans people systemically unaccounted for.

The Built Environment Is Not Neutral
From Le Corbusier’s six-foot-tall male standard to modernism’s masculinized minimalism, architecture has often ignored anyone who doesn’t fit a narrow profile. It’s time to question why.

Safety Isn’t Optional
Trans individuals report staggering rates of harassment and violence, much of it linked to gendered spaces like schools and restrooms. Designing inclusive spaces is a matter of safety, not politics.

Inclusive Design Benefits Everyone
When we design with the “unexpected end-user” in mind, we create healthier, more resilient, and more welcoming environments for all. Thoughtful, gender-diverse design addresses not just visibility, but safety, access, and social connection.

Reflections

Looking back, this was one of the first moments where I realized design isn’t just aesthetic - it’s deeply political. It reflects our values, assumptions, and histories. I wanted to understand how those values get encoded in space, and more importantly, how to rewrite them.

The core of my practice today still stems from this belief: that the spaces we build can challenge oppression, restore dignity, and reflect the full spectrum of human experience.