International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 01 | Jan 2025
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
Gendered Perspectives of Social Capital: A Qualitative Analysis of Women’s Spatial Experiences in Shared Social Spaces within Dhaka’s Low-Income Housing Kazi Samina Shamsi Huq M.Sc., Urban Management and Development (IHS, Erasmus University Rotterdam), Netherlands ---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract – The urban housing landscape in Bangladesh is
Nevertheless, the gender aspects of social capital along with its developments and manifestations are often disregarded. [2]. This oversight is especially crucial in Dhaka’s lowincome neighborhoods, where women’s vulnerabilities persist due to unequal distributions of domestic chores and caregiving duties. Additionally, these are intensified by the cultural norms that frequently limit their access to the public sphere. These limitations hinder their capacity to interact with others, participate in collective events, and develop social capital in general. In Dhaka’s densely populated urban fabric where housing conditions often include substandard living units and limited social spaces. These social spaces such as front or backyards, alleys, common fields, or communal facilities serve as vital sites for daily communications and relationship building. In these settings, social capital is not only confined to traditional kinship networks but also extends localized, socially bound connections, particularly among women. Furthermore, substandard living conditions are frequently cited by researchers as a significant parameter which contributes to weaker societal ties and reduced social capital [3].
evolving rapidly, driven by factors such as urbanization, migration, and economic growth. However, disparities persist in terms of housing quality and spatial opportunities, particularly with women often facing unique barriers. In Dhaka’s low-income housing areas, inadequate socio-spatial planning often deepens social fragmentation. At the same time, it highlights how the differential use of space by gender shapes community bonds and the capacity to cultivate social capital. For women, in particular, the absence of adequate social spaces in these settings exacerbates their marginalization, restricting their opportunities to build networks and access vital social support. Despite the recognized significance of social capital in urban sociology and planning studies, limited research has examined how shared social spaces in housing environments specifically influence women's social capital formation in Dhaka. This paper addresses this gap by exploring the intersection of gender and social capital in Dhaka’s low-income housing. By using the World Bank’s social capital measurement framework and qualitative methods, the findings identify that women’s access to such social spaces significantly influences social capital formation and mutual support. Hence, the paper underlines the essential part of gender in shaping social capital dynamics and advocates for gender-responsive housing spatial planning to address women’s specific challenges and unique spatial needs in low-income contexts.
However, spatial practice as defined by [4] Lefebvre (1991), highlights how everyday appropriation and spatial usage reflect and reinforce social dynamics. These practices are inherently shaped by societal expectations and cultural norms, resulting in varied individual experiences and contributions to spaces. Housing, as a lived experience, serves a dual role in both the physical structure and social space where relationships are formed, negotiated, and contested [5]. Despite this, current research primarily focuses on the structural or economic aspects of low-income housing, paying little attention to the complex genderspecific spatial experiences that occur within these settings. This gap is prominently visible in Dhaka, where low-income communities experience distinct social and spatial disparities due to urban density, economic hardships, and cultural norms. Addressing this gap, this paper explores women’s spatial experiences through the lens of social capital. Guided by the World Banks’s framework, this study seeks to answer the central question: “How do shared social spaces influence women’s social capital formation within lowincome housing in Dhaka?” By offering a gendered perspective on social capital, this paper contributes to urban sociology, gender studies, and housing design, providing
Key Words: Gender, Social Capital, Spatial experience, Social Space, Low-income housing
1. INTRODUCTION The association between space and gender is both socially and, to some extent, culturally constructed, often shaped by societal expectations, gender roles, and patterns of spatial usage. These dynamics influence the different demographic group's interactions and interpretations of spaces, which significantly impact both individual experiences and societal relationships. In the context of urban housing, even within the same physical spaces, these dynamics result in varied roles and participations for different groups. Besides, social capital which is characterized by networks and connections, supports communal well-being, it is essential for creating unified communities and encouraging constructive civic outcomes [1].
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