“If men are sitting there, I will be scared and then go with fear”: A thematic analysis of women’s experiences of Bodily Integrity, Safety & Security, and Privacy in Tiruchirappalli, India Open Access
Bleakley, Megan (Spring 2021)
Published
Abstract
Introduction: Historically, global water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) research has focused on the relationship between poor sanitation and infectious disease. However, studies are increasingly focusing on mental and social well-being related to sanitation, particularly for women and girls. Often, women and girls are more severely impacted by inequities in WASH conditions and face additional consequences compared to males. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify themes that emerge related to bodily integrity, safety, and privacy in relation to women’s sanitation experience in Tiruchirappalli, India.
Methods: Research was conducted in one mixed income neighborhood in Tiruchirappalli, India in the context of the Measuring Urban Sanitation Empowerment (MUSE) project. Thirteen women participated in cognitive interviews that ask questions pertaining to bodily integrity, safety and security, and privacy in relation to their sanitation experience. Women were sampled based on age group and marital status. After data collection ended, the data was analyzed thematically.
Results: Often, the identified themes that emerged within the 3 sub domains are frequently interconnected due to the multifaceted and complex nature of gender and sanitation. Women's opinions and experiences tended to differ based on access to their preferred sanitation method (private latrine, public latrines, or open defecation). Women reported experiences of harassment (sexual/verbal), physical violence, fear of husbands, environmental barriers, and shame when discussing their safety concerns. Regarding privacy, women expressed dissatisfaction when they experienced lack of privacy, stress, and embarrassment, and men often teased and peeped at women when using the public latrine. When discussing bodily integrity, an umbrella concept that encompasses privacy and safety, women reported suppressing their urges due to issues of cleanliness, poor sanitation infrastructure, or lack of privacy.
Discussion: Many results were found to be consistent with the current gender and sanitation literature. However, this thesis uncovered unique perspectives from the women about violence (sexual and physical) when using their preferred sanitation method or performing sanitation related chores, avoidance behaviors related to public latrine usage, and desire for additional private latrines in their home to satisfy their desire for privacy when handling their menstrual hygiene responsibilities.
Conclusion: WASH programming needs to be gender sensitive and transformative in nature, meet both the practical and strategic needs of women, and be implemented by the local government in India with the support of NGOs to be effective and sustainable.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………………………………1
2. LITERATURE REVIEW ….…………………………………………………………………………..3
General WASH and Importance…………………………………………………………….3
Impact on women and girls………………………………………………………………….6
WASH in India…………………………………………………………………………………..9
Impact on women and girls in India …….………………………………………………10
Empowerment: Bodily Integrity, Privacy, and Safety & Security…………………13
Gaps in Research …………………………………………………………………………….22
3. MANUSCRIPT…………………………………………………………………………………………25
Contribution of Student…………………………………………………………………….25
Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………26
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………..28
Methods………………………………………………………………………………………..31
Results………………………………………………………………………………………….40
Discussion …………………..……………………………………………………………….54
5. PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS……………………68
6. REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………………………………72
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