KEMISKINAN FEMINISME GELANDANGAN BEKAS BANDUAN MENERUSI LENSA SUKARELAWAN DI JALAN CHOW KIT

THE FEMINIZATION OF POVERTY AMONG HOMELESS FORMER PRISONERS THROUGH THE LENS OF VOLUNTEERS IN JALAN CHOW KIT

Abstract

Kajian ini meneliti fenomena kemiskinan feminisme dalam kalangan gelandangan wanita bekas banduan di kawasan Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur, menerusi lensa sukarelawan yang aktif membantu komuniti tersebut. Fenomena ini mencerminkan bentuk kemiskinan berasaskan gender yang kompleks, di mana faktor seperti jantina, status sosial, rekod jenayah, dan stigma masyarakat saling berinteraksi membentuk kitaran kemiskinan dan pengasingan sosial. Menggunakan reka bentuk kajian kualitatif, data diperoleh melalui temu bual mendalam dengan enam orang sukarelawan yang terlibat secara langsung dengan komuniti gelandangan. Analisis data dijalankan menggunakan kaedah analisis tematik, berpaksikan teori Intersectionality dan Feminist Standpoint Theory bagi meneliti bagaimana identiti berganda mempengaruhi pengalaman gelandangan residivis wanita. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa kemiskinan feminisme dalam kalangan gelandangan residivis wanita tidak hanya berpunca daripada kekurangan ekonomi, tetapi turut dipacu oleh diskriminasi berasaskan gender, stigma terhadap rekod jenayah, dan ketiadaan sistem sokongan sosial. Penemuan ini sejajar dengan dapatan antarabangsa yang menunjukkan bahawa gelandangan residivis wanita berdepan marginalisasi berlapis, termasuk sekatan terhadap pekerjaan formal, diskriminasi dalam akses kesihatan, dan eksploitasi ekonomi. Sukarelawan mendapati bahawa gelandangan residivis wanita sering menghadapi halangan dalam mendapatkan pekerjaan, tempat tinggal tetap, dan akses kepada perkhidmatan kesihatan. Pengalaman gelandangan residivis wanita di Chow Kit memperlihatkan bagaimana tekanan ekonomi, penolakan keluarga, dan stereotaip gender memperkukuh struktur patriarki yang menindas. Justeru, kajian ini menegaskan keperluan kepada dasar sosial dan intervensi awam yang lebih berkeadilan gender, inklusif, serta berpaksikan hak asasi manusia bagi membantu proses pemberdayaan, pemulihan dan integrasi semula gelandangan residivis wanita dalam masyarakat bandar Malaysia.

This study examines the feminization of poverty phenomenon among formerly incarcerated homeless women in the Chow Kit area of Kuala Lumpur, through the lens of volunteers who actively assist this community. This phenomenon reflects a complex form of gender-based poverty, where factors such as gender, social status, criminal record, and societal stigma interact to create a cycle of poverty and social exclusion. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through in-depth interviews with six volunteers directly involved with the homeless community. Data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis, guided by Intersectionality Theory and Feminist Standpoint Theory, to explore how multiple identities influence the experiences of homeless recidivist women. The findings reveal that feminization of poverty among homeless recidivist women is not solely caused by economic deprivation but is also driven by gender-based discrimination, stigma associated with criminal records, and the absence of social support systems. These findings are consistent with international studies showing that homeless recidivist women face multiple layers of marginalization, including barriers to formal employment, discrimination in accessing healthcare, and economic exploitation. Volunteers observed that homeless recidivist women often encounter significant obstacles in securing jobs, stable housing, and healthcare services. The experiences of homeless recidivist women in Chow Kit illustrate how economic pressures, family rejection, and gender stereotypes reinforce oppressive patriarchal structures. Therefore, this study emphasizes the need for more gender-sensitive, inclusive, and human rights–based social policies and public interventions to support the empowerment, rehabilitation, and reintegration of homeless recidivist women into urban Malaysian society.