The gender difference in behaviour and intentions of households toward water saving practices in Katchi Abadis of Lahore, Pakistan

Asma Seemi Malik; Amjad Mahmood

doi:10.47264/idea.jhsms/2.2.7

Authors

Asma Seemi Malik Department of Gender & Development Studies, Lahore College for Women University, Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3464-6267
Amjad Mahmood Hailey College of Commerce, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47264/idea.jhsms/2.2.7

Keywords:

Katchi Abadis, gendered perception, water conservation, water conservation behaviour, water habits, environment, social norms, water use, water use and hurdles

Abstract

Water resources sustainability and conservation are crucial to controlling water scarcity in the world. This research examines the gendered perception of households in 12 Katchi Abadis of Lahore to conserve water by focusing on their habits, attitude, intention, norms, and behaviour. This is a qualitative research design with in-depth interviews as a method. Respondents were selected by adopting the purposive sampling technique. The debate revolves around the question: which one among men and women in the slum, will be responsible to show proper water managing intentions and behaviour? Is there any difference among men and women in slums on water-saving attitude, norms, intention, and behaviour? 24 face-to-face semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with youths, adults, and elderly males and females. Thematic analysis was used for analysis. It was revealed that people in homes acknowledged the worth of water, but poverty, unemployment, and government unresponsive behaviour caused hindrance to efforts to save water. There is a long list of hurdles that retards the process to conserve water. This research recommended conducting studies on the practices of water in households with actual measurements, not only for self-reported data, but it should also assess, and observe actions of individuals towards the environment.

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