The Role of Gender and Livelihood on Forming Traditional Houses in Two Regions of Iran

Abstract

Gender is socio-cultural identity that is built, preserved and strengthened by communities. Various viewpoints about social phenomena associated with gender are differently expressed in different places and times. Therefore, relying on ideas of the people who live in different countries, we can be informed of reasons for forming different structures of houses. The purpose of this paper is to examine the importance of gender components in shaping traditional houses in Iran. To this end, choosing 8 houses in the old context of ‘Yazd’ and ‘Rasht’, we investigate the influences of livelihood ways and gender on the shaping and spatial structures of the house. Using comparative analysis and case study method, we compare physical and spatial elements including entrance, guest room, living room and kitchen. The results suggest that expanding gender realms and space resolution in the traditional houses of Yazd are the result of men's livelihood and women's domestic work. But lack of gender boundaries and physical barriers in houses of Rasht are due to cooperative livelihood. Presented analyses show that climate, culture and livelihood ways influence on the gender construction. Therefore, the factors emanating from gender such as gender realms, spatial hierarchy and privacy provide identity for these houses.