Gender inclusion in urban consumption spaces
8.
CONCLUSIONS 8.1.
Spatial accessibility in consumption spaces
A true public space is when it allows the people inhabiting it to occupy it and do nothing regardless of their gender or class. People should be able to exercise their right to the city; their rights include the freedom to move freely, facilities should be available to all, right to safety and free from fear of violence. Unfortunately, women face direct and indirect constraints in terms of spatial accessibility in the use of the built environment. From the literature review, it was established that spaces of consumption has been associated with ‘femininity’ and spaces of consumption are dominated by women. But, the case studies and survey revealed that even within consumption spaces, women’s accessibility operates within the strict moral encodings of the society. The ambiguous denial of public space to women at tea and paan shops and usage hours dependent on nightfall even in modern cities reflect the patriarchal values in built spaces constructed in society.
8.2.
Answering the research question:
How are gender relations manifest in urban consumption spaces? Urban consumption areas demonstrated visibly gendered use trends in all 4 instances-ambiguous denial of public space to women in tea and paan shops, local markets with visibly absent women in automotive, alcohol, electrical or machine shops, etc. regions. Even within NCSs, women's accessibility continues to be related to variables that perpetuate gender inequalities in society, such as domestic work and care roles, the generated labour market, household gender relations, and public/private and unsafe/safe dichotomies. It may also be claimed that while middle and upper class women are 'permitted' to enjoy restricted leisure within NCSs, they have not been assigned greater freedom of choice by the 'protection' of these spaces.
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