Homeless women in Malaysia: their choice or victim of situations

This paper reviews relevant literature pertaining to women's homelessness in the Malaysian context. The population of homeless people is in a worrying state, especially in big cities such as Kuala Lumpur. This is because the rising number of homeless people, including women has revealed a new trend of homelessness in the country. This trend is similar to the rising number of the homeless women population in many countries, including developing and developed countries such as India, United States, Australia and many others. However, the existence of homeless women in the city of Kuala Lumpur is often being neglected, given less focused and is currently not much research were carried out about this issue. The homeless women population can be categorized as a vulnerable and marginalized group in Malaysia. They have been associated with many negative perspectives such as involvement in crimes, drug addiction, prostitution, being bad mothers and many others. However, behind the life of all these vulnerable women, lies the underlying factors which have resulted in them succumbing into homelessness. It is unsure whether homeless women choose to end their lives in this way or are among the victims of situations (syndicate, domestic violence, human trafficking and others).

Publication Date: 
2017
Volume: 
5
Issue: 
3
Journal Name: 
Journal of Education and Social Sciences
Location: 
Malaysia