A Case of Gender, Culture and Space in Thakkar Bappa Colony, Mumbai

Abstract

The paper is an attempt to understand the nexus between notions of gender, culture and space in society. To explore the intricacy and interplay of these variables, my ethnographic observations and research in Thakkar Bappa Colony provided the data for the study. Women’s share of and access to public space is limited when compared to that of men. This limitation is conditioned by stereotypes and social constraints, constructed within a structure of gender bias, where women often self regulate or are regulated by norms, rules or simply by the mere presence of other people sharing the same space. The study posits and demonstrates the consequence of this gender binary, intersecting culture and social norms that consequently result in gender discrimination in sharing public space.