[Reader-list] Reminder: Tomorrow: Discussion on the complex issues of lesbian women's access to public space

[Shilpa Phadke]

PUKAR Gender & Space Project invites you to a discussion on the complex
issues of lesbian women's access to public space


Date:                Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Time:                6:00 PM

Venue:              PUKAR Office, 2nd Floor, Kamanwala Chambers, Opp. Strand
Book Stall, Sir. P M Road, Fort, Mumbai 400001

Tel: 5574-8152



In a general sense it is true that in relation to men, women have relatively
lower access to public space. However, such access is also mediated through
class, caste, religious community and the appearance of conforming to
societal norms. This is true even of spaces that appear to enhance women's
access to public space like the local trains. Many paeans have been sung to
the camaraderie of the ladies compartment in Mumbai's local trains. Our
research at the Gender & Space project has also shown that public transport
in Mumbai, particularly, local trains, greatly add to women's mobility and
capacity to access public space. However, the space of the ladies
compartment is far from being a space of pure camaraderie or freedom.



Fisherwomen or other women vendors who try and use the ladies' compartment
at times when the vendors' compartment is over crowded with men vendors are
met with angry demands that they leave. Commuters in the first class
compartment often aggressively bar the entry of others whom they view as
'not appearing like first class pass or ticket holders'. Hijras are met with
annoyance mixed with anxiety (and unless they receive a great deal of
support from each other women will not actively demonstrate their hostility
towards hijras whom they also fear). Women who dress or appear non normative
or unfeminine are also greeted with suspicion and many women who choose a
more assertive demeanour or favour a style of dressing perceived to be
masculine are also often the target of women commuters' hostility and
disdain. Transgender people and others who dress ambiguously are seen as a
threat to the clear definition of both people and space. The ladies'
compartment then comes to stand for a space that can only house women who
obviously look and behave like 'women'! Access for those who refuse to
conform to established gender norms is thus very contested.



Also we need to distinguish between simple access to public space - that is
the capacity to be in a public space and use it and a more complex claim to
public space - that is the capacity to use one's identity to articulate a
right to be in public space. We have discovered that the first might be
sought to some extent through anonymity - that is, for women to slip into
the city and occupy space without drawing undue attention if we appear to
conform. The latter implies the staking of a political claim to space.



For women who love women, any political claim to space is complicated by the
fact that technically and legally Section 377 of the IPC renders all non
peno-vaginal sex illegal in private and in public. Living an illegal love
and life implies hiding and thus most public claims to space beget constant
harassment. Same sex love in public might be tolerated in some up-market
spaces if it's not too overt, not too loud and if you follow the US army
rule not to ask or tell. Or if you don't mind seeking refuge in the
sanctioned homo-sociality of being just good friends. Large cities like
Mumbai do offer a certain kind of space that comes with anonymity but this
may often bring the loss of mobilising on the basis of a political identity.



What does Mumbai mean to lesbian women? What are the spaces that lesbian
women can seek without fear? How does the city enhance space for
articulation and how does it reduce the capacity to claim a political
identity? These are only some of the questions we hope to raise at a
discussion on lesbian women's access to public space in Mumbai. We hope the
audience brings their own questions and queries to make this a lively and
challenging space.



Members of the group Lesbians and Bisexuals in Action will introduce the
discussion.



Please do come and also forward this invitation to interested friends and
colleagues.



Date:                Wednesday, March 29,  2006

Time:                6 PM

Venue:              PUKAR Office, Fort, Mumbai




PUKAR (Partners for Urban Knowledge Action and Research)

Address:: 1-4, 2nd Floor, Kamanwala Chambers, Sir P. M. Road, Fort, Mumbai
400 001
Telephone:: +91 (22) 5574 8152
Fax:: +91 (22) 5664 0561
Email:: pukar at pukar.org.in
Website:: www.pukar.org.in