PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED BY DESTITUTE WOMEN

Abstract

Shelter homes are created by public and private sector to eliminate violence against women and empower them to re-organize their lifestyle. This ethnographic study was conducted to highlight the problems of destitute women and to analyze the working of women Shelter homes in Punjab, Pakistan. There are several studies that revealed how women living in patriarchal societies are prone towards domestic violence, excessive wok, harassment, gender inequality and inferiority. The main objective of the present research was to investigate various social, economic, and psychological problems of the destitute women. The study also aimed to examine the societal attitude and stigmas towards these women and the role of Women Shelter Homes in the rehabilitation of the women in distress. The present study was conducted at Women Shelter Home, Gujrat. The data for this purpose was collected with the help of anthropological methods and techniques that mainly included participant and non-participant observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and key informants. Moreover, socio-economic census survey was also done to collect base-line formation from the respondents. Total 38 case studies were collected from the shelter home to elucidate problems and issues of women living in shelter home. To further enrich the data and to include multiple opinions other relevant stakeholders were also included in the sample and 20 in-depth interviews were taken from the media persons, lawyers, legal advisors, and community members. For the purpose of in-depth understanding, nine focus group discussions were also held. The study findings revealed that fear of societal rejection, negative social attitudes, cultural barriers, and financial dependence of women, fear, depression and distrust are the major issues that are experienced by destitute women. There is a general lack of awareness of women shelter homes in Pakistan. The study suggests implementation of the Government policies in collaboration with INGOs, media, feminists and Social 2 activists to combat violence against women. The study concludes that to resolve these problems, women must be empowered in socio-economic aspects so that they can contribute toward national development and institutional reforms should be introduced to promote safety of women in shelter homes.