Picturing gendered water spaces: A textual approach to water in rural Sierra Leone

Abstract

Photographs taken by women and men through a photovoice research project about conservation in rural Sierra Leone identify water as an important community resource. Water is crucial for survival. In this rural African context, women are responsible for collecting and managing domestic water. The points of access to water-taps, rivers, and wells-occupy and construct particular spaces. These spaces are texts rich with meaning: they can be interpreted in order to learn something about how water is used. Drawing from visual studies and theories of space and place, I examine photographs of water spaces taken by participants in the photovoice project to better understand and particularise the gendered nature of water in Sierra Leone. My interpretation of the arrangement of space and objects depicted in the photographs makes connections between water spaces and the social relationships within which they are located. Incorporating my own research and volunteer experiences in Sierra Leone, I illustrate nuanced perspectives about social roles and practices with water and water infrastructure. Water spaces are textual entry points to challenge, engage and explore the gendered use, consumption, and management of water. Water spaces play an important role in the politics, access and control of water.

Keywords:

• Gender
• water
• water spaces
• photovoice
• Sierra Leone