Intersecting Landscapes of Exclusion: Mothers’ Perceptions and Spatial Tactics in the Public Spaces of Amman Downtown

Lama Akmeel, Hebah Abu-Shamah, Haneen Ahmad, Yike Hu () and Yazhuo Zhang ()
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Lama Akmeel: School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Hebah Abu-Shamah: Hijjawi Faculty for Engineering Technology, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan
Haneen Ahmad: School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Yike Hu: School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Yazhuo Zhang: School of Civil Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 4, 1-29

Abstract: Mothers in Amman Downtown frequently report feeling unsafe and excluded from public spaces. This study explores the impact of multiple layers of oppression, coupled with inadequate public spaces, on mothers’ perceptions. Using an intersectional lens, we examine how various identities intersect to shape the experiences and perspectives of motherhood in urban environments, helping us better understand the challenges faced by marginalized groups in public spaces. Ethnographic methods, including semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and field observations, were employed. The research highlights how the absence of care-supportive environments forces mothers to develop spatial tactics, such as cutting their trips short and returning home, seeking permission from shop owners to use private restrooms, or using their cars as temporary caregiving spaces, as a response to their exclusion. The findings offer deeper insights into the experiences of mothers, highlighting the need to address their specific needs and preferences in the design and management of public spaces. This study emphasizes the importance of fostering social and gender equity through interventions tailored to the diverse needs of mothers, with a particular focus on creating sustainable, care-supportive environments in public spaces.

Keywords: public spaces; care-supportive design; intersectionality; inclusive public space; perceptions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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