mina bidar

This article addresses the methodological shortcomings in the study of urban spaces in Iran and highlights the usefulness of ethnographic research in motion for urban and urban design studies based on fieldwork on gender relations in the physical space of the Tehran Bazaar. It also examines the innovative approaches employed by the authors in applying this method. The ethnographic research in motion concerning the chosen case study provides insights into the formation and remembrance of a sense of place during movement in the bazaar, critical interventions in space through women's navigation and crossing of gendered boundaries within the market, the creation of new spaces, as well as the rhythm of women's presence in the space, which encompasses both long movements and short stops, and their specific decision-making processes for navigating the unique physicality of the market .The results of this article demonstrate that the use of ethnography in motion, particularly in movement-based urban space studies, is valuable. In addition to providing analyses of people's emotions and experiences at different points in their presence within the space, it offers a macro-level perspective on people's trajectories and locations in the space, providing researchers with a unique set of data on the formation of perceived space and enabling specific analytical capabilities not easily accessible through other methods. Ethnography in motion can contribute to a deeper understanding of the gendering of the environment, the inclusivity of the urban environment, and the overall production and appropriation of space by different groups and segments of society, showcasing the critical engagement of groups (in this case, women) with the dominant spatial discourse. When the knowledge gained through this approach intersects with the qualitative qualities of the analyzed environment, it can be highly beneficial in designing urban spaces that cater to the diverse segments of society.

The number of women in Tehran urban spaces has increased and the quality of their presence differs from the past. Tehran Bazaar attracts hundreds of thousands of people every day while a remarkable percentage of this population are women. The bazaar environment in recent years has encountered an increase in the number of women's presence. The research problem is that so far, women’s experience of Tehran Bazaar as an Iranian shopping space, has not been recognized. While women are using this space that has been gradually formed over the years for men who had been in the majority. The research purpose is to find out the meaning of the Bazaar and how the spatial qualities affect the formation of this meaning in the minds of Bazaar’s female users. Using a phenomenological approach, researchers have conducted in-depth interviews with 14 women (and to achieve complementary data, 6 men). The maps derived from the mental images of women and men show that the realm of presence of men in the bazaar is more extensive than the realm of presence of women. In the mentality of participating women, Tehran Bazaar finds its meaning in the form of five main themes as follows: shopping space, recreation space, layered space, gendered space, and intimate space. These meanings are affected by seven themes that describe the spatial qualities of the bazaar: a large complex of specialized “Raste Bazaars” (or Bazaar branches), being historical, being a labyrinth, being movement based, being old and traditional, liveliness and social diversity. The research findings show Tehran Bazaar is not only a place to shop, but presents some important benefits of urban space such as being among the people, enjoying the physical qualities and being linked with historical identity of the city. Researchers' interpretations also suggest that there is a disjuncture and inconsistency between the women experiences and the pre-existing male structures. This disjuncture results from the lack of conformity between the socio-cultural characteristics and the spatial qualities of the environment with the needs and desires of women in the "lived space". In spite of these inconsistencies, some factors act in favor of women presence in Tehran Bazaar. The meaning of the Bazaar as a "recreation space", which makes good feelings for most of its visitors, and the "intimate space" that is welcoming to people from every culture and class, suggests that, despite all the restrictions and shortcomings, women have been able to benefit from the Bazaar characteristics in favor of their own interests. Being a place for shopping, Tehran Bazaar has the potential to enable women to disguise themselves as buyers and at the same time enjoy the spatial and social qualities beyond a shopping environment. The results of this study point out that for any possible modification in the Bazaar, the meanings of this place in the experience of its users should be carefully recognized. Designs that do not care about these meanings can lead to the destruction of values of the Bazaar for its audience.

The number of women in Tehran urban spaces is on the increase, and it is coupled with differing qualities of presence of women. But urban design researchers in Iran have rarely adopted a qualitative approach to the way women interact with the physical aspects of these spaces. The northern parts of the Tehran bazaar has experienced changes in the quantity and quality of women's presence. The present research aims to find out how the physical environment of the bazaar as well as its activities affects and is affected by women’s presence. In order to do so a study is conducted on reciprocal reproduction of gender and space in Sabzeh Meydan and Moshir Khalvat, using participant observation and in-depth interviews. The results show that the specifications of these spaces constrain some aspects of women’s presence and marginalizes them. Despite the increase in women’s numbers men keep their stronger role in reproducing the physical space in these two spaces. Despite both being gendered spaces not equally used by women and men, Sabzeh Meidan provides some more opportunities for optional and social activities in the public realm, giving women the chance to be present for non-essential purposes whilst participate more proactively in reproduction of the physical environment, which is due to both the physical aspects of this space and around space activities.