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Paper short abstract

This study examines how gendered skill gaps and unmet aspirations shape economic inequality in urban transformation, focusing on how women food vendors in peri-urban zone within Mumbai, India. It explores the intersection of spatial marginality and digital exclusion.

Paper long abstract

In the 'brave new world' of digitally expanding cities, systemic inequalities are often reproduced rather than resolved. This study examines how gendered skill gaps and unmet aspirations shape economic inequality in urban transformation. Focusing on women food vendors in peri-urban zone within the 'Mumbai 3.0' expansion, it explores the intersection of spatial marginality and digital exclusion.

Employing a mixed-methods approach of in-depth interviews and spatial mapping (QGIS), the research documents the lived experiences of vendors navigating a transforming landscape. Findings reveal a critical duality: while these women possess resilient entrepreneurial aspirations, they face an extreme skill gap in accessing digital marketplaces. Their physical peripherality is compounded by digital marginalization, forcing reliance on invisible informal networks. This highlights how the digital transition, without intentional intervention, exacerbates existing gendered and spatial inequalities.

The study concludes that bridging the aspirational divide in cities requires moving beyond technical infrastructure. It argues for a framework where inclusive development is predicated on co-designed interventions that pair digital integration with community-led skill-building. Ultimately, equitable urban futures depend on recognizing and strengthening the informal care and support networks that already sustain marginalized workers.