Concepts of Space/Time

Thinking about space and time as a social construct changes a person’s “self” perception. As the Theory Toolbox explains, space especially is a gendered construct, alluding to the notion of “public” and “private” space. These perceptions of space were once considered “natural” or “normal” associations with gender. Perception of space and time, in Western culture, is especially rooted in the ideology of the individual. Citizens in Western culture understand space and time as individualistic entities, not very interconnected with other peoples’ time and space. Notions of time and space are also permeated with privileged concepts of limitless time and space resources. When, in reality, time and space for most people in the world, especially in the South, are controlled by institutional and governmental powers, not individualistic desires.
By categorizing space and time, we assign social meaning to abstract qualities in life. We label certain spaces, spaces that require a certain dress, a certain attitude or behavior. How people move and interact with space is all socially constructed based on these abstract ideas. Even something as simple as moving though space is determined by these categories and labels. Some gender constructions require women and men to present in a certain dress, behavior and ownership of space. In mass media images of women, social constructions dictate to women to take up as little space as possible bodily and emotionally. Perceptions of beauty are determined by this notion of feminine space as small and childlike. While masculine space is constructed as large, overbearing and violent.