Area (2000) 32(2): 145-156.

Gender Differences in Space-time Constraints

Mei-Po Kwan

Abstract:  This study explores gender differences in space-time constraints and their impact on women's and men's activity-travel patterns from a time-geographic perspective. Using a travel diary data set collected in Columbus, Ohio (U.S.), the time-budget and fixity constraints of three population subgroups are examined. The results reveal that women, regardless of their employment status and commuting distance, experience higher level of fixity constraint both in absolute and relative terms when compared to men. Although a long commute for women of high socioeconomic status is usually understood as an indicator of their less constrained job location, the full-time employed women examined in this study still experience higher level of fixity constraint than men despite their easy access to the car, high occupational status and long journey-to-work. The paper concludes that space-time constraints have a significant impact on women's activity-travel patterns.

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