Chennai's public infrastructure design reinforces gender stereotypes, excludes caregivers

Buildings communicate through their design choices—counter heights, doorway widths, and facility placement—who they believe belongs and what activities are acceptable. A workplace without breastfeeding rooms assumes childcare stays at home. A school without elevators excludes those with mobility challenges. A restaurant without ramps excludes disabled customers.

Gender norms become embedded in subtle ways. When diaper-changing tables are placed only in women's restrooms, fathers find no equivalent facility in men's rooms, reinforcing the assumption that childcare is women's work. Local business leaders acknowledged overlooking such gaps until becoming parents themselves. One noted how airports now provide dedicated baby care and nursing rooms, but such facilities remain rare in most Chennai establishments.