Does the domestic space belong to women? An Assessment of the Housing in the New Indian Urban Agenda through the lens of gender

Abstract

Households in the cultural context of a patriarchal society such as India, are primary headed by men. The reason why a female heads a household is not because of improving social and economic status of women—it is unlikely that a woman will be considered head of the household in the presence of her husband. It is mostly because there is no alternative (Masoodi, 2015). According to the 2011 Census, about 27 million households in India (11% of total households in the country), are headed by women. Still the socio cultural system places women as a outsider in their own family - the one who will marry and leave her parents' house for her husband - and as the outsider in their husband's house who came into the family through the marriage. In spite of it all, the house remains at the heart of their lives. It is where they spend most of their time, look after their family and children and even run businesses. In such a conflicting scenario of ownership and belonging to the house, it is essential that we question our housing policies, building and property ownership regulations for their adequacy of providing safety and security to the women. This paper presents India's current scenario through the lens of gender, with focus on India's new urban agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. The purpose is to highlight the gaps in the system which weaken women's position as an equal member of the society.