Intergenerational and gender differences in satisfaction of farmers with rural public space: Insights from traditional village in Northwest China

With the rapid advance of urbanization, the rural public space in China is undergoing a drastic change. Studying the satisfaction of farmers with rural public space is of great significance for promoting the reconstruction of rural space, enhancing rural resilience, and building sustainable rural communities. This paper constructed an evaluation index system of the satisfaction of farmers with rural public space. Taking the traditional ancient village in the Chinese Loess Plateau as an example, we analyzed the differences in satisfaction of various groups of farmers with public space based on questionnaire survey data and in-depth interview data. This paper found that there is a certain degree of dislocation between the supply of rural public space and the demand of villagers in rural China, resulting in a relatively low overall satisfaction with rural public space. Among them, farmers have the highest satisfaction with production and lives public space, followed by the folk beliefs public space and entertainment public space. There are significant intergenerational and gender differences in the satisfaction of farmers with rural public space. The elders are more satisfied with the rural public space than the young people, and women are more satisfied with public space in production, life, organization and management than men. Therefore, future policies should pay attention to the modern transformation of the village traditional culture, and the requirements of different groups with rural public space. In addition, it is necessary to actively cultivate rural social organizations, enhance the ability of the village public management. • There exists dislocation between the supply of rural public space and farmers' demand in China. • There are significant intergenerational and gender differences in farmers' satisfaction with rural public space. • Older farmers are more satisfied with rural public space than younger farmers. • Women are more satisfied with rural public space of production and life, organization and management. • Promoting the sustainable development of rural public space should focus on physical and cultural transformation.