Homelessness Through a Feminist Lens

Homelessness is not a gender-neutral phenomenon. This chapter explores the false representation of ‘homeless people’ as a homogenous population of men with shared characteristics. It is argued that this image of homelessness has excluded an analysis of experiences and processes of oppression that differ due to gender and which marginalise women experiencing homelessness. This chapter argues that while more research has emerged on women’s homelessness in recent years, more investigation is needed and that there is a strong case for using a feminist lens to explore the unique and disparate experiences of women who are homeless. It is important that analysis moves beyond simply including women in homelessness research and that feminist theorisation is used to help frame and understand the political, cultural, and social dimensions of their homelessness.