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Gender & Public Space
Samar Minallah’s Quest for Equality in Public Spaces in Pakistan
by MT Team | Published Nov 1st, 2024
With a unique blend of Anthropology, Development, and Communication, Samar Minallah, specializes in crafting strategies that promote gender-responsive judicial systems and tackle critical issues like health, livelihoods, child justice, social justice, and cultural heritage preservation. She has received recognition at Cannes, Google, and Common Wealth Innovation awards. With rich experience working with United Nations and other international organisations, Samar, is passionate about creating culturally relevant, research based media that drives social change. Samar has researched and filmed, “Physical Mobility – The Missing Link”, in which is a notable work on intersection of gender, social class, and public space in Pakistan. Her work delves deep into the everyday experiences of different genders, specifically women, in navigating public spaces—examining how access, mobility, and comfort levels are influenced by social structures and infrastructure. With a particular focus on public transport, she has undertaken critical research documentary to highlight the unique challenges faced by women and girls across Pakistan. Her commitment to understanding these dynamics led her to Karachi, where she travelled alongside working women, documenting their journeys with a camera to vividly capture their struggles and resilience in accessing public transportation. Her insights offer a vital lens on the complexities of gender and urban mobility in Pakistan. For the last 15 years, as both a filmmaker and an anthropologist, I’ve been using creative media to shift societal mindsets, raising awareness through documentary films and impactful storytelling methods,” says Samar. While conducting research, she followed several factory workers in Karachi, witnessing firsthand the many challenges they faced just trying to reach their workplaces on time and within budget. Her work vividly illustrates the intersection of gender, class, and mobility, shining a light on the hardships of working women.
Gender Gap in Pakistan’s Labor Market due to Weak Urban Infrastructure
Although Pakistan has made considerable strides in economic development over the past few years, a stark gender gap remains in the labor market. Women contribute less than 20% to the national income, and their involvement in the formal labor force stands at just about 23%. This limited participation is primarily a result of mobility restrictions, which significantly curtail their access to formal employment opportunities. “While conducting research, I followed several factory workers in Karachi who faced numerous challenges, struggling to reach their workplaces on time and within budget,” Samar notes.
Harassment & Stigma in Public Spaces
Samar maintains that in patriarchal and conservative settings, a woman’s presence in public spaces often carries a social stigma, with their visibility sometimes being perceived as dishonorable. “Many women I interviewed in Balochistan and Karachi shared stories of the harassment they endure, which was particularly severe on public transport, heightening their stress and sense of insecurity. These experiences vividly illustrate the broader struggles women face in navigating both public spaces,” she explains.
Impact of Social Class on Women’s Mobility
“This issue is deeply tied to social class,” Samar adds. Wealthier women often have access to private transport, offering them greater safety and reliability. In contrast, working women from lower middle-class backgrounds must rely on unreliable and often unsafe public transport. Public vans and buses are frequently overcrowded, leading to physical discomfort and increased harassment, further exacerbating their daily struggles.
Concept of Honor: Barriers to Women's Freedom
In her exploration of gender and public spaces, Samar highlights the deep-rooted cultural norms that shape women’s mobility in Pakistan. She observes that the concept of honor is often tied directly to women’s spatial confinement, with cultural values equating female honor to their presence within domestic spaces. This belief system creates an environment where women’s mobility is not only restricted but also stigmatized, further limiting their access to public spaces and opportunities.
Rethinking Women's Mobility in Patriarchal Societies
Samar’s findings reveal that these cultural expectations significantly impact women’s daily lives, particularly in their ability to access education, employment, and other essential services. The notion that a woman's honor is compromised when she steps into public spaces creates invisible barriers, forcing many women to remain confined to their homes or endure social scrutiny when they move beyond traditional boundaries. Through her research and firsthand documentation, Samar sheds light on how these cultural constraints perpetuate gender inequality, particularly in patriarchal settings.
Minallah’s Vision: Advocating for Safe and Accessible Public Spaces for All Women
Samar’s findings reveal that these cultural expectations significantly impact women’s daily lives, particularly in their ability to access education, employment, and other essential services. The notion that a woman's honor is compromised when she steps into public spaces creates invisible barriers, forcing many women to remain confined to their homes or endure social scrutiny when they move beyond traditional boundaries. Through her research and firsthand documentation, Samar sheds light on how these cultural constraints perpetuate gender inequality, particularly in patriarchal settings.
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