Staff, Curbed. “It’s Time to Stop Describing Spaces as ‘Masculine’ or ‘Feminine'” Curbed. Vox Media, 15 Dec. 2014. Web. 21 Feb. 2016. <http://www.curbed.com/2014/12/15/10012002/masculine-feminine-design-decor-writing>.

Comparing the reading summaries of the positive light feminine architecture, this article is portrayed in the exact opposite tone where they say that the gendered labels on modern architecture degrades the feminist movement. The article sets examples of how feminine pieces of design in interior decor is deemed as frivolous while the masculine features of decor is portrayed as staple pieces of the interior built space. Having the dichotomy of the masculine and feminine features, the article paints a great image of how the interior space is built and how the submissive tone of the feminine features plays a vital role in demoralizing the importance of the feminine movement. The article also shows that in order to have the certain labels of ‘feminine’ and ‘masculine’ there has to be stereotypes set in place and thus furthers  the  negative connotations of feminine features. Perpetuating the traditional gender roles, labeling the interior space also builds up more of the lackluster status quo that this modern age is already breaking down. This article is relevant since we spoke about the built environment and how the feminine architecture movement is showing great strides in feminist movements. And even though the two articles don’t share the same sentiments, we can see both perspectives on the issue making a wider picture for us to draw information on. 

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Steinmetz, Katy. “The Gender-Neutral Bathroom Revolution Is Growing.”Time. Time, 11 Jan. 2016. Web. 22 Feb. 2016. <http://time.com/4175774/san-francisco-gender-neutral-bathrooms/>.

This is another article that debunks the greatness of a gendered society but dives into the specifics in the fashion world and how the subsequent marketing is also being influenced by the labels of gender roles. This article also follows on the idea the other article showed of how the labels of gender idealize the masculine features yet still ignoring the more prominent feminine features. When the article said that there are many instances of androgyny in the fashion industry but most likely featuring manly features while juxtaposing only with frivolous feminine features. They say that they see many manly built females promoting menswear yet there is not androgyny with curvier women promoting the same menswear since that doesn’t sell. The article also highlights how the fashion industry uses these blurred gender lines only to market the controversy and not the actual design of the clothes. This is another article that shows the other side of the reading we did in class as well as showing the other perspectives in different realms other than architecture.

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Krentcil, Faran. “Here’s the Problem With Fashion’s Androgyny Obsession.”ELLE. N.p., 02 Sept. 2015. Web. 21 Feb. 2016. <http://www.elle.com/fashion/a30209/the-problem-with-fashions-androgyny-obsession/>.

Time wrote this article to highlight the great strides and influence San Francisco is having with gender neutral bathrooms. They are passing bills to make many of the city’s single occupancy bathrooms into non gender specific bathrooms and therefore they are causing great influence to other city’s as well as colleges and public schools .Safety is also another main idea in this article in which they highlight the dangers transgender people face in order to attain a basic necessity like the bathroom. This article touches on the ideas we spoke about on the importance of a comfortable shared space like the bathroom to people who are not gender specific or transgender. However this article brings a new light on the other positive influences a non gender specific bathroom can bring like a mother with a son or a caretaker. These other examples helps to connect the transgenders’ issue with the shared space with those within the community who can benefit from these open, comfortable, and safe space.

 

Ambrose, Andy. “Atlanta.” New Georgia Encyclopedia. N.p., 15 Mar. 2004.
Web. 04 Feb. 2016.

This article tells the story of the overall history of Atlanta while effectively including the important themes of race and civil rights in the tumultuous race relations that happened in the city. The article also spells out the great stride the black community had to make in terms of self education in relation to the crippling racial targeting that they faced in the very diverse city of Atlanta. They talked about the emergence of prestigious all black schools in contrast to the urban city and how the city was growing more and more segregated as the city expanded. They also spoke of the emergence of black adaptation to the segregation by emerging as business owners, teachers, and doctors. Not only did the article highlight the problems the black community had to face but also painted Atlanta as a hub for all sorts of social change like the police violence and the emerging Anti-Semitic views.

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Harrington, Jaime Rojo & Steven. “20 New Murals From Atlanta Living Walls
2013.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 21 Aug. 2013.
Web. 04 Feb. 2016.

This article explains and shows the emergence of a new form of art that has taken Atlanta by storm and how some in the community go against this art. The article takes a clear stance on how this form of ‘street art’ is held at a more prophetic and symbolic form of expression. The graffiti that has been painted on the urban walls all seem to portray some sort of social issue. The reason the graffiti artist use this public space as a voice may stem from the lack of voice they might have in the current stance of societal oppression. Other people in the community still seem to look at this art as a form of vandalization and defamation while fighting the artists who desperately want their voices to be heard in their community. The article also highlights the form of art festivals surrounding this type of expression and how the group who organize these festivals want the world to appreciate this form of expression and social justice.

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Rosenberger, Robert. “How Cities Use Design to Drive Homeless People
Away.” The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 19 June 2014. Web. 04
Feb. 2016.

The article uses pictures in different cities to demonstrate a topic we have previously read before on how the city uses the environment to drive off the homeless and how they devalue their sense of home. The cities built spikes in the ground to prevent the homeless from camping out in front of storefronts. While the public had an outcry over the insensitive act, other acts of the exclusion from the city are not as apparent like sectioned benches which may be looked as practical formations of the park yet still serve the same purpose of excluding the homeless from the public eye. This exclusion is not translated as exclusionary and therefore it’s hard to target the city planning as targeting with intent. The article also highlights the exclusion not only faced by the homeless but also to the skaters who are being excluded from utilizing the same public space.