The changing geography of gendered informal work in public open spaces (Tea ladies phenomenon in Kha

The changing geography of gendered informal work in public open spaces (Tea ladies phenomenon in Khartoum River Nile Fronts) Author: Wala Hashim Bashari Architect/Urban Planner/ PMPÂŽ B.Sc. of Architecture University of Khartoum M.Sc.of urban Planning and Management-University of Khartoum

1 Introduction Urban public spaces have been considered as an essential spatial element of cities throughout history. Public spaces play a particular role in the livability of urban areas. One of the important factors that affect the use pattern of people in these places is the impact of their gender.

In this regard Women are central to urban planning and Development, both as key users of urban space in their role as home managers, and as key Producers of residential environments in their role as community leaders and initiators of Neighborhood networks.one of the main differences affecting the Use of urban space in terms of female and male is the care-giving roles and responsibilities, consequently different needs, perceptions and experiences (a city tailored to women).

1.1 Informal economy and gender issues in Africa In Africa, the informal sector as a whole is estimated to account for 60 per cent of all urban jobs and over 90 per cent of all new urban jobs. After home-working, street trading is estimated to account for the largest share of these jobs. Trends in street trading over time are integrally linked to urbanization, migration and economic development processes(Sharma & Konwar, 2014). In this regard, urban planning may be said to be gender blind in terms of informal female activities. Women have had to deal with an urban planning strategy that does not include them. The failure of African planners to plan for informal economy means that they do not plan for women, who form the majority. This situation raised many issues that is should be taken in consideration in urban planning level with regards to the concept of urban equity, and gender equity with correlation to urban spatial systems (Sharma & Konwar, 2014).

Moreover, the Main issues and trends of gendered perspectives in planning of public open spaces Inclusion; Urban spatial planning has an important role to play in inhibiting or supporting street traders. Most African cities inherit colonial spatial planning where residential neighborhoods were segregated by economic and social classes. This separation has implications for street traders who largely live in poorer parts of the city. Furthermore, urban design decisions like the width of streets and pavements, transport and land use planning are critical. Women in economic informality are not a homogeneous category (Fallis, 2013). issues such as Infrastructure, safety, accessibility, and Social perception, shifting these perceptions remains a critical challenge, it should be studied to promote gender equity in the urban public open space(Skinner, 2008).

1.2 Are Khartoum’s open spaces female friendly?

This study investigates the spatial impact of gendered work in Khartoum, represented in tea ladies and their role both as users of and service suppliers in public open spaces. This involves issues of gender, space and informal economy. It raises some central questions such as: what is the spatial distribution of these activities and how did it change with the growing use of these services? Are the physical components of public space supporting them as female users? Are they promoting any variations in users’ behaviors? Does their presence participate in engendering public space?

The study area is located in Khartoum along the southern bank of the Blue Nile. Khartoum is a multicultural and diverse city; therefore, it allows for investigating diverse activities and users in public spaces, besides being the capital city which encountered a dramatic social change and diverse social structure, the river Nile front attracted many tea ladies to provide their services there, never the less, this phenomena has become . In this regard, Khartoum water front is one of the most vibrant public open spaces utilized in the city, which justifies why it was chosen to be investigated.

The objectives of research are: to Track the use patterns of tea ladies both as users and as service suppliers, Define the main issues and trends with regards to this model of gendered work. Define the impact and of their presence on behavior of users and trends, segregated by gender, and propose recommendations that could enhance their economic activity, and promote gender equity in the space.

The main methodology of the research relies on the critical analysis method. This was applied through a direct observation of user behavior on the site, and in-depth interviews, observation results will then be used to create a relationship between the physical components of place and activity pattern, to explore the relationship between the existed infrastructure, physical features and females with emphasis on tea ladies.

The main urban planning issues that should be considered in case of street vendors and tea ladies specifically are economic aspects, Accessibility, safety, and infrastructure 1.2.1 Gender and informal economy Tea ladies are one of the most cultural increasing phenomena in the study area, a category who reflect a pure gender work. If we look to this case form an economical perspective, using Supply and demand concept; the female users (Tea ladies) represent suppliers, and the users of the public space are demanders. In this manner the requirements of supplier have been analyzed in the space as well as their influence on use and activity pattern, they have a distinguished role in management of their space, in terms of provision of services, division of their work territories, and their role as (social institution) which affect directly and indirectly the user’s patterns figure below illustrates the gender distribution of street vendors by the zone.

Moreover, Tea ladies support their families and most of the ladies (about 90%) in the study area are the bread winners in their families.

1.2.2 Infrastructure aspects As shown in the photos they manage to provide the needed services in the space such as water supply provided from the nearest facility on daily bases, they also manage waste disposal and Storage themselves.

For transportation at night; they rely upon private transportation means shared by group of them who live in the same geographic areas or nearby.

The locality approved their work implicitly; as they rent the chairs from the locality and pay taxes, The locality approved their work implicitly; they rent the chairs from the locality and pay taxes, Safety aspect

In terms of the influence of social institutions such as police point and tea lady, the presence of female suppliers in the space affected positively the presence of female users in the space. On the contrary the zone D male dominated space generates more domination zoneC and exclusion for female users. zone B female Flexibility and rearrangement families tend to zone A prefer informal sitting, more flexible sitting area male (using their own tools such as mats, food and 0 50 100 150 drinks, also in the sitting areas, some areas depend on movable furniture because is the most preferred, that means flexibility is important, on the other hand, female groups only prefer formal sitting area.

Infrastructure •water supply from nearist facility.

•no public toilets.

•furniture and tools are movable, rented with fixed amount daily, stored for fixed amount per day.

•work spot determined mainly by availability of shade (trees) prefered, otherwise the tea ladies move all over the day according to shade, the spots are maintained by mutual agreements of the vendors . social •ascoredand by their children, no one can take care of them, and for assistance (90%girls)in work shifts.

•age group 20-50.

•they are the bread winners, supporting their families.

•work shifts (7am-12pm) weekdays and (2am) weekend )and others which have no shaded spot start after 4pm(4pm-2am) safety •return to home late to their naighbourhoods.

•undirect survailance, presence of people ,building frontages is important.

•low lighting increase sense of unsafety. acessebility •transportation means private, no direct access to public transportation.

•lack of transportation means at night.

safety procedures should be taken in consideration by cater for lighting, dark pockets, presence of people which is a result of enhancing the space quality and addressing needs of users, as well as police points. Below is the result of studying these factors;

1.2.2.1

Lighting

In terms of lighting, there is a direct relation between women sitting preferences and lighting, accessibility and transportation means which affect time of return to home.

1.2.2.2

Enclosure

Female-only groups tend to sit in the nearest space to road (edges) for more surveillance, they prefer more defined areas. Feeling safe in public space is one of most important factors for making place attractive for female users; safety is an important quality of places. In this regard some unacceptable practices take place in peripheral areas; it

is assumed that is related to absence of people, and due to low-lighting and least connectivity, although it needs further research.

1.2.2.3

Indirect surveillance

Female-only groups tend to sit in the area which is more crowded (presence of people) and they do not sit in the higher level space (physically) to be least exposed, the presence of women who come alone to the area is rarely observed, in this regard visibility is an important aspect, to be seen; the indirect surveillance of people watching you in the street and building frontiers, and the ability to see what is happening around you, this is very important in enhancement of sense of safety, it’s more important for female groups as observed form their sitting preferences, accordingly the presence of people revitalize the place.

The preference of being accompanied; women prefer to be accompanied in public spaces, in this regard safety, visibility, and accessibility has to be taken into account in urban planning to promote women presence in public spaces.

1.2.3

Distribution of users according to gender and age

The siting arrangement around Tea lady is distinguished by men prefer to sit next to her, but generally the zone around the tea lady is always the first to be full, which emphasize the influence of social institution. Senior adults are more present in the informal sitting areas next to tea ladies, Men tend to sit around tea lady more than women.

One of the most important points which is observed are that women preferences and behavior is different when she is a part of female group, couple or with a family, the presence of male partner change her preferences, as a result the importance of safety, lighting, and accessibility aspects will be reprioritized. The map bellow is an example of gender distribution in the space, it is noticed that the sitting is in shape of clusters and the center of the cluster is the tea lady and her disk.

1.3 Recommendations From a planning perspective, tea ladies provide urban residents with goods and services and at times of day, in parts of the city that contribute to the functioning of cities. Economically, cumulatively these activities’ contribution to local economies and to local revenue collection is considerable.

Local authorities, instead of getting rid of tea ladies, planning effort should be used to provide services and infrastructure; water supply, storage facilities, public toilets, shelving was provided for goods, and health and cleaning issues were addressed such as water, electricity and garbage collection, shading devices, ablution and child care facilities. Planners need to balance the interests of many different stakeholders using public space.

Great emphasis on safety procedures should be taken in consideration in planning of these public spaces, by increasing lighting, eliminate dark pockets, presence of people which is a result of enhancing the space quality and addressing needs of users, as well as police points. In this regard it’s necessary to legalize tea ladies situation, Policies often suggest support interventions like micro-finance and training; however, if tea ladies do not have security of tenure, these interventions can be irrelevant. Legal reform and litigation strategies on how best toSecure the right to operate and improve working conditions need to be further explored (weigo working paper5).

Finally, there must be sensitive public spaces planning methods to gender differences and needs to transform public places into more safe, secure, vital and usable places for all sections of the community, and promote gender equity.