Gender performativity in urban public spaces- case of fort railway station, Colombo

Abstract

This paper explores the way spaces are gendered, by qualitatively analyzing public spaces under a feminist perspective. It looks at spatial attributes and everyday actions to understand the subjectivity and reality of spaces. The term “gendered spaces” is used when power dynamics of gender are reflected in a space. This could be perceived as a result of defining gender roles associated with public-private spatial divisions. The railways were pioneering urban interventions that contributed to blurring these strict boundaries of space. Women, the seemingly disadvantaged group, found empowerment through the increased accessibility, but were yet subjected to discrimination and inequal opportunity. This phenomenon is reflected in the historical evolution of Colombo Fort railway station. Under this background, physical and social attributes of spaces within and around Colombo Fort railway station are assessed under Gender Performativity theory, through activity mapping, interviews, surveys and videographic observations. Furthermore, spaces were understood through tactical responses; everyday practices of regular users, which were categorized as “activity” and “signs”. The findings of the case study showed that women navigated through the public space with comparatively less freedom and higher caution even in the absence of physical obstructions. A higher percentage of men identified their occupancy at the station as partially recreational, while women’s occupancy was determined by the need for safety, privacy or functional needs. The performative nature of gender becomes evident in the study; the conditional access granted for women as well as their own actions signified their subordinate position, while men expressed authority in space when the social order was challenged. However, instead of merely being victimized; women seeked empowerment within the patriarchal structure itself, rather than directly challenging or disrupting the system. These gendered responses to spatial attributes contribute continuously through time in reshaping and restructuring of social structures and gender norms.