The ethic of care and women's experiences of public space

Women's use of public space has been the subject of much recent research. E xisting theory in environment-behavior studies is inadequate to explain the se findings. This paper proposes the adoption of the feminist theory of the 'ethic of card to synthesize and explain much existing research on women's experience of public space. The ethic of care is a model of moral developm ent in which the highest moral imperative requires taking care of needs and sustaining relationships. This paper examines how the ethic of care create s constraints for women's use of public space, by encouraging women to put others first and by reinforcing women's primary responsibility for care-giv ing. The ethic of care constrains women's use of public space through the a ssociation of women with low status 'caring' occupations, and through actio ns that extend restrictive caring to women. At the: same time, through wome n's use of public space, the ethic of care generates possibilities for wome n to give and receive care from others and themselves, and creates possibil ities for extending care to encompass public spaces. The ethic of care is e xplored in detail in light of two areas of environment-behavior research on women and public spaces: preference and fear of crime. In conclusion, the paper advocates the ethic of care as a framework for future activism, desig n, and scholarship concerning public spaces. (C) 2000 Academic Press.