Section Article

Gendered Spaces: Examining Patriarchy in Urban and Rural India
Author(s): Raja Paswan

Abstract
This paper examines the pervasive influence of patriarchy on the construction and experience of physical and social spaces in India presenting a comparative analysis of urban and rural contexts. While the manifestations of patriarchal control differ across these landscapes the underlying ideology that demarcates spaces as masculine or feminine remains a powerful force in shaping womens lives. This study explores how spaces—from the home and agricultural fields in rural areas to public transport and corporate offices in cities—are gendered restricting womens mobility access to resources and personal freedom. By analyzing existing literature case studies and sociological research this paper argues that despite the transformative potential of urbanization patriarchal norms adapt and persist creating new forms of spatial segregation and exclusion. The paper concludes by highlighting the nuanced ways in which women navigate and resist these gendered spaces asserting their agency in both overt and subtle forms.