The Engendered Spaces in the Villageat the Edge of the Capital:A Case Study of Al Gharaza/Sudan

This research is the outcome of fieldwork undertaken between November 2002 and 2003 inAl Gharaza village part of Khartoum State - the Sudan capital.The study focuses on identifying how spaces and times are interrelated and engendered. Theforces that impact the creation of boundaries or those that direct change are analysed. Howwomen’s boundaries and spaces are defined and their interaction with them and bringingabout new arrangements for spaces is discussed. How time is used, division of labourengendered, time conceptualized are highlighted. It is found that tradition and customs ofexclusiveness as a value create a siege binding women spaces within the village and impacton their use of time: education is an important force that manages to crack the siege and openup to women some public space within the village. Outside forces for development orIslamization remained distant from the village; the villagers themselves desired a state ofbeing apart from theses forces. The consequence is a situation of exclusiveness from botheconomic development efforts and political integration. The value of exclusiveness of“others”, inclusiveness from within; of the “we” and “they” have made the villagers to leadself-social development, which they desire and could afford, such as “building schools andsupporting teachers”. The interface between development, culture and social structures of thevillage life became evident. Minimal outside efforts to introduce development did not sustain.This made villagers step forward to initiate their own development, while development theydoubt its consequenses is resisted....