Abstract

In Chinese traditional culture, it is common for social identity to be expressed through the consumption and use of cultural artifacts and antiques. However, previous studies have rarely mentioned the absence of female as subjects in this consumption practice, due to women were by default excluded from the public arena of society and confined to the private sphere of the family. Does the gender inequality still exist now? And if so, in what ways? This study investigated an antique Market Panjiayuan to explore gender differences in use of urban cultural space. Using on-site observation and spatiotemporal behaviour mapping (SBM), and based on GIS, we analysed thirty-two activities across four sites, four age groups, as well as weekday and weekend periods under the theme of gender. Our results show that both the number and proportion of women decreased over the weekend. Female vendors are spatially closer to female buyers and more distant from male buyers. However，while men continue to be the dominant demographic in the market, the differences of gender temporal and spatial behaviours decrease with age. We argue that gender stereotypes may still subtly influence women's free and equal access to urban space, which likely deny them the same rights to activity and behaviour as men in specific space contained cultural traditions. However, compared with the elderly, the younger generation of women in China are constructing their own identities and rebelling against stereotypes by 'stepping out '. This transition of gender differences allows designers and policy makers to create a more inclusive and equitable urban environment.