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Commuting and Gender

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Mobilities in India

Part of the book series: The Urban Book Series ((UBS))

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Abstract

In past research, commuting has been found to be highly gendered. These studies have presented commuting to be highly masculine. An attempt has been made in this chapter to explore the real picture. Followed by a thorough empirical research, the present chapter contradicts common beliefs regarding the masculinity of commute. Although traditionally it is thought that women commute shorter distance than men do, this chapter shows that they commute longer distances in comparison with men. It also challenges other common concepts such as women commuting for low-paid, part-time jobs, etc. This book shows that present day working women try to balance both their household duties and economic activities. To do so, commuting is a better option for them rather than migrating near the workplace. It allows them to return to the family after the day’s work. In economically oppressed families, women are not always secondary earners. They commute long distances for the survival of their families. In spite of the increasing trend of commuting among women, they still do not frequently use private transit modes to reach the railway station from home as men do. They still depend either on walking or on public transit.

With relation to gendered movement, it is the individual action which has been studied in detail but much is left to be studied in the realm of potential action and freedom of action.

—Uteng (2011, p. 7)

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Bread and vegetables-curry.

  2. 2.

    Toto is a battery-operated eco-friendly paratransit with zero emission, also known as e-rickshaw or green autorickshaw. It provides seating arrangement for 4 to 8 passengers.

  3. 3.

    One kind of scooter usually run by women; having a platform for the rider’s feet.

  4. 4.

    Besides the ladies compartment, there is another compartment reserved for vendors only. The rest of the compartments are meant for both men and women, also known as general compartments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Rampurhat College, Birbhum, West Bengal, India

    Bhaswati Mondal

  2. Department of Geography, The University of Burdwan, Bardhaman, West Bengal, India

    Gopa Samanta

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  1. Bhaswati Mondal
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  2. Gopa Samanta
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Mondal, B., Samanta, G. (2021). Commuting and Gender. In: Mobilities in India. The Urban Book Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78350-1_7

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