Embodied pain with water refers to the profound physical and emotional suffering that individuals and communities endure due to inadequate access to clean water and sanitation. This pain is not merely a theoretical concept; it is a lived, bodily experience, particularly among those who face daily challenges in securing safe water. The intersectionality of water and gender intensifies this pain, as women, girls, and marginalised groups disproportionately bear the burden.

In many parts of the world, the struggle to access safe water sources, contend with the impacts of droughts or floods, or deal with contaminated water is a source of relentless stress and hardship. For women and marginalised communities, this struggle manifests in embodied pain – experienced directly through their physical labour, health, and emotional well-being.

This pain is deeply gendered. Women and girls are often responsible for water collection and household sanitation, tasks that require them to carry heavy water loads over long distances. This physical burden can lead to chronic pain, injury, and long-term health issues. Moreover, the health impacts of consuming unsafe water – such as those due to waterborne diseases – compound this physical suffering.

Beyond the physical toll, the emotional and psychological stress associated with water scarcity is significant. The daily worry about finding enough water, the anxiety over the quality of that water, and the humiliation of inadequate sanitation facilities all contribute to a profound sense of vulnerability and distress. For girls, this often means missing school during menstruation due to the lack of appropriate sanitation facilities, further entrenching gender inequality.

The concept of embodied pain with water highlights the urgent need for inclusive and equitable water management solutions. Such solutions must consider not only the physical infrastructure but also the social and emotional dimensions of water access.

By recognising water as a fundamental human right, efforts can be made to alleviate the burdens that disproportionately affect women and marginalised groups, ensuring that their needs and voices are central to water governance and policy decisions.

Addressing this intersectional pain requires a holistic approach that integrates gender sensitivity into all aspects of water management, aiming to create a world where access to clean water and sanitation is equitable and just for all.

Note

This blog serves as a testament to my unwavering commitment to the women and girls of the informal settlement in Madanpur Khadar, Delhi. In 2017, I had the opportunity to work closely with this resilient community as part of my Master’s thesis with the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in Delft, Netherlands. Some of the women and girls were actively involved in the research, using photovoice methodology to document their daily experiences and the barriers they encounter in accessing water and sanitation – challenges that are deeply intertwined with issues of gender inequality.

At IWA I am privileged to support Specialist Groups such as those on Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries and Non-Sewered Sanitation and see the progress being made on IWA’s work on Inclusive Urban Sanitation, advocating for solutions that are sustainable, inclusive, and transformative.