Gender and mobility in the car-dependent urban society of Muscat/ Oman

This article aims at analysing women’s possibilities in Muscat/Oman to participate in society by being mobile. Taking Muscat’s highly diversified population into account, we included both Omani and Indian family households in a mixedmethods approach using predominantly qualitative interviews. As a result of the urbanisation and modernisation process of the last five decades, the Capital Area of Muscat today forms a linear urban corridor that extends over roughly 80 km. The specific spatial context of a fast growing and widely dispersed urban space, as well as a well-developed road infrastructure combined with a high availability of individual cars are the reasons why individual mobility is predominantly car-based. For the analysis of Omani and Indian women’s mobility the concept of motility was chosen as theoretical framework. Considering the categories access, competence and appropriation, the concept offers a particular enlightening perspective for the case of Muscat, where the socioeconomic position as well as social norms and cultural restrictions play a decisive role in women’s mobility

Urban Oman: From Modern to Postmodern Mobility in Muscat?

In our contribution, we discuss how modern types of urban structures and mobility have developed in Muscat, Oman. With regard to mobility practices, we argue that a transition from modern to postmodern types of mobility will be closely related to the transition from a car-dependent society to a society with options for multi-modal and smart mobility as well as new organizational forms. We raise the question to what extent specific social groups are disadvantaged by the existing mobility system. Furthermore we explore if current plans will turn the future mobility system into a more postmodern and more inclusive one