Women and Toilet: Case Studies from India

The WHO, UNICEF, and Wash, i.e., Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, report that in the year 2015, only 60% of the Indian population had access to basic sanitation. This shows that nearly 40% of the population still does not have access to basic sanitation in the country. Studies have shown that improving sanitation can reduce the expenditure on medicine and even save countless infants’ lives in different parts of the world (Nandi et al., Soc Sci Med 180:181–192, 2017). However, it is not just infants; even women are affected by the sanitation issue (Sheikh, Public toilets in Delhi: an emphasis on the facilities for women in slum/resettlement areas (No. 192). CCS working paper, 2008) points out that the unavailability of public toilets affects women from all economic strata. Still, it affects, to a larger extent, those in the weaker sections of society (Sheikh, Public toilets in Delhi: an emphasis on the facilities for women in slum/resettlement areas (No. 192). CCS working paper, 2008). Given this background, we can learn about women and toilets through field observation from different parts of India. Going to the toilet is a practice and ritual that is practiced right from childhood. In this chapter, these practices (going to the toilet) are studied. The study also uses ethnomethodology theory. This chapter also highlights how the diversion of everyday situations like traveling and work timing creates problems in hygiene practices.