SPATIAL USE PATTERN OF GENDERED-SPACES AMONG FEMALE STUDENTS IN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS MOSQUES

Extant literature has over the years suggested uniformity and differences in the way differentgenders use spaces in the same building. This is especially true in campus mosque buildings whereboth genders offer prayers together. This paper measured the spatial use pattern of genderedspaces among female students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria- Nigeria using four mosques ascase studies. The methodology adopted was essentially a case study approach supported with aqualitative in-depth interview. Physical survey was also undertaken using a questionnaire. In theanalysis, mathematical relationships which measured the extent of use of spaces as well ashabitability indices of measured variables were used. Findings on the level of use of the genderedspaces indicated that the greater percentage of respondents (78.1%) across the four mosques usedthese spaces for five daily prayers (Khamsu Salawat). On the extent of use of gendered spaces(HIsp) however, the results indicated a uniformity for observance of prayers across all fourmosques (Education M=0.56, Physical Sciences M=0.58, Medicine M=0.58 and Vet. MedicineM=0.61). Findings suggest that the closer the worshipper is to her faculty mosque, the more likelyto use the gendered spaces for all three types of use patterns i.e. spiritual, educational and social.It also suggested that the more privacy is provided to the female worshippers, the moresocialization takes place among themselves. The design implications of these findings include theneed to provide adequate spaces and facilities as a way of accommodating more worshippers,provision of more privacy around the gendered spaces by way of providing dedicated toiletfacilities within the confine of the gendered spaces.