effect of the gender variable on the opinions and suggestions of students in developing some components of the outdoor spaces

Abstract

A field questionnaire study was conducted in the tenth month of 2022 to determine the impact of the gender variable on the opinions and desires of students regarding the development and some components of Landscape  (gardens and paved squares) of Al-Mustaqbal University College in Babylon provainc. Students of both genders agreed on many items of the questionnaire, as it was (93.4)%. (97.6)% of the male students and (97.6)% of the female students preferred to develop parks and paved squares, and (91.6)% of the male students and (96.8)% of the female students preferred to participate in expressing their opinion in developing gardens, and (96.8)% of the male students and (96.6)% of The female students preferred to change the current design of the gardens, and (71.1)% of the male students and (84.5) of the female students suggested the mixed design, and (93.2)% of the male students and (92.4)% of the female students preferred to provide both types of shaded and exposed seating, and as was (97.6)% of the male students and (97.1)% of the female students preferred the presence of kiosks and health services, and (97.1)% of the male students and (96.8)% of the female students preferred the presence of water basins, fountains, monuments, and statues. The male and female students differed in their choice of two items, which were group and individual seats. (95)% of the students preferred group seats, while the percentage of female students was (94.5)% who preferred individual seats. The other item was the activities they practice in the parks. The percentage of students was (59.2)% who preferred individual seats. They prefer to communicate with friends, and the percentage of female students (60.5) prefer to read. From this, we conclude that the students’ harmony of opinion is due to their vision and interest in developing the landscape (parks and paved squares) to create a comfortable university environment for them, where they spend most of their time, in addition to taking their place in decisions related to their psychological comfort and the practice of their scientific, cultural, and artistic activities...etc. As for the difference in opinion between the sexes, it is due to the influence of the prevailing social environment in various cities of Iraq and social traditions that limit women’s freedom and reduce the extent of their choices, while their impact on students is less significant.