Muskan Singla Week 6

Tanushree Paul in her article associates space with gender. The symbolic aspect of gender space is seen in public spheres which rigidified gender roles as seen in the society. Definition of gender was largely based on segregation of their roles. Norms and social relations become a part of a woman’s cultural definition which is reflected in their upbringing.

The spheres are clearly demarcated- private becomes the territory of the women which according to scholars contributes to their subordination. According to the Marxists, with economic reorganization, women were confined within the family while the men were the breadwinners. Nationalism in India gave rise to a ‘new patriarchy’ as Chatterjee calls it. The society is divided into public material (public) and spiritual (private) sphere. Males belonged to the bahiri material sphere and females belonged to the ghar, also known as the spiritual realm, difference form the ‘old’ patriarchy being, the females were now educated.

The concept of inner sphere provided a sense of protection associating it with ‘safety, morality and honour’ and when women were removed from this sphere, it created a sense of fear in their minds. Fear of violence (physical assault and psychological trauma of injury) and fear of being out of place implying that they shouldn’t wander in public sphere without purpose as it would question their honour and lack of sexual virtues. This is backed by the case study of Kolkata, a city which is considered to be relatively safer, where according to a survey women feared sexual intimidation creating an idea of being in the wrong place, wearing wrong clothes, etc.