Episode 04 - In defence of loitering

Women in Labour

Ever noticed how our public spaces and workplaces are full of men? Dr. Shilpa Phadke encourages women to take back the city with something revolutionary: loitering. In this episode, we ask how public spaces play a role in women's commutes, why women have to justify their presence in public spaces, and why loitering could be the revolution we need. With special guest Dr. Shilpa Phadke: Dr. Shilpa Phadke is a sociologist and associate professor at the Centre for Media and Cultural Studies at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She is also a co-author of ‘Why Loiter? Women and Risk on Mumbai Streets,’ an absolutely seminal text about how women access public space in cities. MORE TO READ. This 2019 YKA interview with Dr. Phadke: https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2019/11/loitering-as-resistance-interview-with-shilpa-phadke-for-16daysofactivism/ This 2019 interview with Amy Lamé: https://www.smartcitiesworld.net/city-lights/city-lights/city-lights-amy-lame-night-czar-london-3789 This 2019 Scroll piece by Dr. Phadke: https://scroll.in/article/926148/mere-populism-kejriwal-plan-to-make-transport-free-for-delhi-women-could-actually-transform-city This 2017 Scroll piece by Dr. Phadke: https://scroll.in/article/859979/what-kirron-kher-could-learn-from-women-who-actually-use-public-transport This 2017 Indiaspend piece by Namita Bhandare: https://archive.indiaspend.com/cover-story/why-87-of-delhi-homes-start-worrying-if-women-are-not-home-by-9pm-98297 2017, ITDP and Safetipin, ‘Women and Transport in Indian Cities’: https://itdpdotorg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/181202_Women-and-Transport-in-Indian-Cities.pdf This 2016 piece in The Hindu: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/Give-women-equal-access-to-public-spaces/article14308408.ece MORE TO LISTEN TO. Episode 5, ‘Not safe in public’ of the HearMeToo podcast by Indian Express: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hdWRpb2Jvb20uY29tL2NoYW5uZWxzLzQ5ODI3MDAucnNz&episode=aHR0cHM6Ly9pbmRpYW5leHByZXNzLmNvbS9hdWRpby9oZWFyLW1lLXRvby9ub3Qtc2FmZS1pbi1wdWJsaWMvNTQ2NzExMy8 MORE TO WATCH. Dr. Phadke’s TEDx talk, titled ‘Why Loiter?’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlgGNv5t92A ‘Khadar ki Ladkiyan’, from the ‘Gendering the Smart City’ project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d6awx1E1J8 A BIG THANKS Women In Labour is generously supported by a grant from the American Center, New Delhi. All opinions, findings, and conclusions are those of Women In Labour and its hosts only — and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.