Reshaping Existing Discourses on Urban Spaces

Abstract

Activism can occur in urban spaces independent of their spatial proportions. This chapter analyses the representations of women's activism as observed in their autobiographical works. The study focusses on women's activism documented in life writings by Nalini Jameela titled The Autobiography of a Sex Worker (2007) and Kiran Bedi's Dare to Do! For the New Generation (2012). The chapter draws upon the sociologist Mario Diani's deliberations on the different types of grassroot activism and social movements that can be understood as a manifestation of the right to the city struggle. Through a comparative analysis of the texts, the chapter examines how city spaces can become arenas of transformation, and the myriad ways people can come together to propose a common agenda and conjointly act to accomplish their goals.