“Gender segregation on public transport in South Asia”

Congratulations to Jennifer Harrison who recently received high marks for her graduate thesis entitled, “Gender segregation on public transport in South Asia: A critical evaluation of approaches for addressing harassment against women.”

This is her thesis abstract, and you can read her full dissertation here..

“Sexual harassment of women on public transport is a widespread problem within South Asia, which creates a variety of negative impacts, including physical and psychological harm, limitation of access to the wider public sphere, and entrenchment of gender differences within society.  This dissertation reviews a range of literature, and interviews with several women’s rights experts, to assess the challenges women face when attempting to obtain justice. It also explores theories of women’s access to space in order to evaluate proposed strategies to address the issue.  The debate is essentially one of segregation versus non-segregation, both on public transport and in wider public space, and how the former promotes women’s personal safety but engenders existing patriarchal norms, while the latter exposes women to greater risk but allows them increased opportunity to tackle entrenched gender inequality. In order to alter perceptions of women on public transport, a strategy that priorities women’s right to space must be pursued, but consequently there must also be an accessible support network in place to allow for suitable action when their right to space is questioned. Ultimately, no strategy will succeed without also tackling the wider cultural, political and religious gender inequalities that pervade South Asian societies.”