Embodied Intersectionalities of Urban Citizenship: Water, Infrastructure, and Gender in the Global South

This is my summary and reflection on the article: Sultana, F., 2020. Embodied intersectionalities of urban citizenship: Water, infrastructure, and gender in the global south. Annals of the American Association of Geographers, 110(5), pp.1407-1424.

The central focus

This article (Sultana, 2020) primarily delves into the intricate interplay between water and urban citizens, a concept known as the water-citizens nexus. It emphasizes the significance of scrutinizing how socio-spatial disparities such as gender and class intersect with the material aspects of water and its infrastructure. The outcomes of these interactions on urban citizenship are explored, considering citizenship as a contested realm in people’s daily lives. To underscore this argument, the author draws from empirical research conducted in the Global South, notably a study in Dhaka, which reveals that water insecurity and instability not only amplify feelings of exclusion among the urban underprivileged but also impact their communal mobilization, intersectional claims for citizenship recognition, and sense of belonging through water.

In essence, the article employs feminist geographic perspectives to analyze how gendered practices involving water influence the daily existence, well-being, health, and progress of marginalized urban women. Furthermore, it introduces the water-citizenship nexus as a concept that gains a deeper understanding when considering the intricate ties between socio-spatial differences and tangible materials within specific contexts.

Methodology

After a brief introduction to the subject matter, the author assimilates literature on urban citizenship, feminist theories, and water infrastructure to expand the notion of the water-citizen nexus. Subsequently, empirical evidence is woven into the discourse to support the author’s stance. The article’s foundation lies in qualitative primary research, involving ethnographic fieldwork conducted by the author within the Korail slum area of Dhaka. This approach encompasses participant observations, interviews with key informants, semi-structured questionnaires administered to thirty male and thirty female Korail residents, two focus group discussions (FGDs) involving male and female members of Korail community-based organizations (CBOs), an additional FGD exclusively with women residents of Korail, and open-ended interviews with numerous Korail residents and community leaders.

The main practical recommendations

Sultana (2020) underscores the importance of adopting an intersectional embodied framework to critically assess urban water-related issues. This approach sheds light on the experiences of marginalized urban inhabitants, emphasizing how their citizenship formation and enactment are closely tied to access to public water, an emotive and gendered process. The article concludes by advocating for the conceptualization of the “hydraulic citizen” or “infrastructural citizen” as an intersectionally embodied entity, intricately linked with the spatial and material dimensions of water and infrastructure within urban landscapes.

Novel concepts

In my readings on water security and related challenges in the Global South, I find the content novel and captivating, given my personal background in a country (Iran) with comparatively fewer water and sanitation issues than many other Global South nations. The most captivating aspect of this article, to me, is the pivotal role of water infrastructure in delivering safe and clean water, symbolizing equity within cities. Conversely, the absence of such infrastructure accentuates societal divisions. This perspective positions water infrastructure as a democratic element, showcasing citizens’ equal entitlement to urban spaces.

Another aspect of intrigue is the author’s fieldwork in Dhaka, revealing how demands for public water intersect with gender-based claims to urban citizenship, and how these dynamics are constructed and mediated.

My reflection

The article cites a study from India (Anand 2012), revealing that water access, or the lack thereof, significantly shapes the daily lives and sense of place of urban poor individuals, who engage in constant negotiations and struggles over water. Drawing from our fieldwork in “Fort Kochi,” where we observe challenges related to clean water access, sanitation, urban ecosystems, and waste management, I concur with the article’s reference. The quality of water infrastructure undeniably impacts the daily existence of the urban underprivileged. Thus, any developmental strategies for informal settlements should incorporate this dimension and its interconnectedness with other factors.