Gendered Residential Space

Gay Villages, Gay Ghettos, and other gay and lesbian residential enclaves have all become a standard part of urban space, but who actually lives in these neighborhoods and how does each differ? One obvious variation is gender, particularly as it is traditionally understood. As a population that inherently breaks conventional gender stereotypes, is it possible that gay and lesbian settlement patterns still reinforce gender stereotypes? This paper explores gender in neighborhoods with high lesbian and gay populations and particularly questions what are the factors that lead lesbians to concentrate in certain residential spaces. The research focuses on the Philadelphia neighborhoods of Mount Airy and Washington Square West and serves to better understand gendered space in the larger scheme of urban settlement.