Examining the Impact of the Changing Role of Women on the Built Environment

Rodriguez begins his essay by tracing from the beginning of the 20th century the changing role of women in Canadian society, from one primarily as caretaker for their family and home, to progressively increasing "leadership in the social, economic, and political fronts."

Rodriguez then looks at each of the seven generations of women born in Canada in the last 100 years. He describes each generation's current housing characteristics and projects what he believes their housing needs will be in the future.

Pulling out specific trends, such as the increase in women living alone, their growing financial power, and increasing levels of home-ownership, Rodriguez "suggests that now is the time for community policy makers, planners, designers, developers, and the housing industry in general, to start tapping into women's unique housing and community needs and preferences."