Women's negotiation of domestic space: an investigation into gender issues in low-income housing of Dhaka city

Abstract

Dhaka mega city, as a result of inadequate urban employment opportunities, housing and services in relation to the overriding demand of the growing population has inevitably expanded into the metropolitan fringe where increasing number of slums have developed for the urban poor. Women among the poor suffer doubly from the denial of their human rights – first on account of gender inequality, second on account of poverty. This also leads to the concept of ‘feminization of poverty.’ These women become the poorest of the poor class. A critical gap in slum discourse exists which addresses urban poor women emphasizing gender issues. This particularly concerns how these women negotiate the use of domestic spaces to fulfill their gender needs that eventually imply a far reaching impact on society. Existing gender division of labor, especially in the low-income group, confines women within the domestic realm, especially, spaces surrounding a house in performing their daily household activities. Use of domestic spaces governed by a set of binary oppositions meaning enclosed-open, front–back, public private, male- female, clean- dirty, symbolic and secular often requires negotiation among people inside and in the extended domestic spaces. Beyond investigating the determinants of domestic spaces such as form, organization, use etc., the prevalent social differentiation of gender in housing, rendering unequal status of men and women in cities in developing countries, has gained research attention. The changing role of women in relation to the transformation of house form in urban low-income housing leads to investigate women’s inability to negotiate access to and use of domestic spaces resulting in their suppression of practical and strategic gender needs. This research investigates Ganaktuli and Hajaribagh slums in Dhaka, as case study, to understand women’s negotiation of domestic spaces. The three objectives of this study are: first, to investigate domestic space use and organization in lowincome housing in Dhaka; second, to examine women’s nature and extent of negotiation in those domestic spaces in relation to gender needs; and third, to investigate the consequences of their negotiation in addressing mainly their practical gender needs. The research methodology is based on two broad stages; theoretical understanding and empirical investigation. The empirical approach was applied to get both quantitative and qualitative data. From each site, 20 dwelling samples were taken for more detailed study. The findings of this research revealed that in the surveyed areas, inadequate domestic spaces and unfavorable domestic environment hinders comfortable, safe and secured living for women who are the prime users of these domestic spaces. These women face a double or even triple burden which comprises productive, reproductive and community managing roles. To carry out their roles and responsibilities, these women need to negotiate their inside and extended domestic spaces as well as with their household and community members. Except a few, most women fail to make physical, social and economic negotiations in their inadequate domestic spaces. As a consequence of women’s inability to negotiate, women fail to address their gender needs. On the other hand, as a consequence of women’s ability to negotiate with domestic space and users, low-income group women’s typical prevailing life style, her role and household position change to a certain extent and they are able to address their gender needs in terms of comfort and convenience, hygiene, privacy, safety and security. They can also negotiate with time, space and with other household members to carry on income and social activities. The research concludes that women’s negotiation pattern related to domestic spaces in terms of gender issues is slowly improving in favor of female household members. However, in most cases, inability to negotiate domestic spaces in their inadequate low-income housing areas is observed which results in failure to address their gender needs. This also hinders the growth of a gendersensitive domestic environment where women can utilize their resources fully and contribute to their household, community and overall social sphere. Future research on domestic space use and organization catering to negotiation and thereby resulting in the fulfillment of women’s gender needs may contribute to future interventions in a gender-sensitive low-income housing.