Women's challenging commutes in southern India: A case of the metropolitan region of Chennai

Abstract

This article contributes to the understanding of commuting mobility constraints on women in paid work in the context of urban India. With the help of a primary survey of 293 workers in the Chennai Metropolitan Region between January and June 2018, augmented with in-depth interviews of 20 women on their commuting parameters and mobility constraints, we document gender disparity in the use of modes of transport with women relying more on public transport (among low skilled workers) and cab services (among high skilled workers) compared to men's higher use of personal modes of transport. The transport mode in turn, adversely influences the time, cost and/or convenience of commuting for women. The evidence suggests that the mode of transport is not being endogenously determined, but a constraint that appears to emerge due to gender norms surrounding access to transport resources. The home location also acts as a constraint for working married women if a cultural norm requires them to move into a spouse's home location post marriage. Commuting safety is a key concern, especially for women in low-skilled occupations. We highlight the commuting challenges for women in paid work, which urban policymakers need to factor into their future city mobility plans.