Finding pink in pink city : a study of women's infrastructural aspirations in Jaipur, Rajasthan

Abstract

From time immemorial women have often been relegated to the confines of the private sphere, which has been traditionally a sight of oppression for them. When the construct of urbanisation emerged so did the ideas of acceptable areas that do not let women completely be open to the public. In doing so, urban planning has seen multiple waves ranging from cities that confine women to sub-urbs or the emergence of securitization of cities to make women feel safe. However, little attention has been paid to what women aspire in cities, as are sult very few women actually experience cities the same way their male counterparts do. Cities that are not designed for women have a psychological impact in terms of bringing women to the point of not belonging, they often feel trapped and numerous psychological benefits of urbanisation, such as freedom of anonymity escape them.

There are also material consequences of unequal participation in cities such as inability to participate in the workforce, and paying higher prices for services such as entertainment or transport since the ones that are made available in the public arena at a subsidised price by the government can not be accessed by women because of the way the city is designed. To address these concerns, this study takes a two-fold approach, it brings forward audits as a tool for recording women’s aspirations by conducting an audit in a sample area and bringing it forward as a tool for recording the aspirations that need to be incorporated in the design element. Secondly, the report presents insight into the social elements that make women feel insecure in the given cities, and how the social norms can be best targeted.