Presentation short abstract

The presentation traces the geographies of gendered inequalities embedded within urban mobility and how these inequalities manifest as gendered climate vulnerability. Through qualitative studies, I map gender climate injustice and everyday adaptation practices of women.

Presentation long abstract

Climate-induced disasters are increasingly threatening the resilience of transport systems. Indian cities frequently experience flooding due to extreme rainfall, inadequate drainage systems, and unplanned urban expansion. In recent years, extreme rainfall has caused frequent transportation disruptions in Hyderabad and Kochi in South India due to resultant flooding. These disruptions expose not only infrastructure vulnerability but the disproportionate effects it has on those reliant on public transport and active mobility: women, informal workers, and low-income groups, sometimes a combination of all three. The resulting immobility and the inability to access safe transport systems can prevent evacuations to safer zones and access to healthcare.

I present my PhD dissertation research on how gendered (im)mobility intersects with urban flooding in South Indian cities, Hyderabad and Kochi. Through comparative case studies across the cities, the project investigates everyday adaptation practises of women against climate-induced immobility. By foregrounding the politics of gendered (im)mobility, this research contributes to advancing both theoretical debates on mobility justice and practical interventions for more equitable and climate-resilient urban transport systems in India.