Our Work Will Be Far, and the Roads Are Unsafe: Housing Insecurity through an Intersectional Lens

Krishnan, Preethi, Killemsetty, Namesh and Kochar, Gati (2026) Our Work Will Be Far, and the Roads Are Unsafe: Housing Insecurity through an Intersectional Lens. In: Gender, Power, and Economic Inequality in the Global South: An Intersectional Approach. Taylor and Francis, pp. 178-190. ISBN 9781040550014; 9781032959498

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Abstract

Housing insecurity has implications for the lives of Muslim migrant domestic workers not only in the context of shelter and economic distress but also in relation to care, violence, religious freedom, and labour rights. Drawing on data from focus group discussions and interviews with domestic workers living under the threat of eviction in the Indian city of Gurugram, the chapter aims to understand how gender, migrant status, religious identity, and class intersect to create distinct patterns of vulnerability and resilience in the context of housing insecurity. Actors such as the state and the employers exercise power in varied ways in these women's lives as they navigate the eviction process. Our findings highlight four themes: Working class women see housing as gendered safety for themselves and their loved ones. Domestic workers see housing as central to their right to rest. For migrant Muslim women, housing security also offers protection for their religious freedom. Finally, housing security offers women the ability to foster community. These micro level insights about domestic workers' experiences of housing insecurity point to larger systemic issues such as hostile working conditions, absence of legislative protection, lack of state accountability and gendered and casteist violence in an environment where care is increasingly privatized. The chapter discusses the implications and potential interventions to promote equitable and inclusive urban development, specifically for vulnerable groups. © 2026 selection and editorial matter, Hebatallah Adam and Abul Hasnat Monjurul Kabir; individual chapters, the contributors. All rights reserved.

Item Type: Book Section
Keywords: Industrial relations | Laws and legislation | Occupational risks | Personnel | Urban growth | Condition |Focus groups | Group discussions | Housing securities | Labor rights | Legislative protection | Micro level | Power | Urban development | Workers | Housing
Subjects: Social Sciences and humanities > Social Sciences > Social Sciences (General)
Social Sciences and humanities > Social Sciences > Planning and Development
Social Sciences and humanities > Social Sciences > Demography
JGU School/Centre: Jindal Global Law School
Jindal School of Government and Public Policy
Depositing User: Mr. Arjun Dinesh
Date Deposited: 02 Mar 2026 06:18
Last Modified: 02 Mar 2026 06:18
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003587309-16
URI: https://pure.jgu.edu.in/id/eprint/10962

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