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<p>In India, marriage and family are idealized as central institutions in women’s lives, yet many women experience homelessness despite having families. This paradox remains underexplored in relation to domesticity, mental health, and identity. The study examines how women’s homelessness unfolds through the interplay of family dynamics, mental health, and institutional responses within a socio-cultural context shaped by gendered norms and conditional belonging. Using an ethnographic approach, this qualitative study was conducted in two all-women shelter homes in the Delhi National Capital Region. Data were drawn from in-depth interviews with 50 women, along with observations, patient records, and interviews with service providers. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. A majority of women reported prolonged violence and psychological distress within marital or natal households prior to leaving or being expelled. Mental health emerged both as a contributing factor to exclusion and a consequence of homelessness. A dominant theme of “non-absorption” revealed that return to families was often blocked by stigma, honour-related concerns, and fear of mental illness. While shelters provided safety, they did not restore social identity or a sense of belonging, contributing to experiences of identity loss. The findings indicate that women’s homelessness reflects a broader crisis of belonging shaped by gendered family structures that withdraw recognition and care under conditions of vulnerability. Addressing homelessness requires moving beyond shelter provision toward approaches that support social reintegration and identity reconstruction. </p>

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Unhomed by Patriarchy: Homeless Women’s Mental Health and the Loss of Self

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月6日

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  • Sanidhya Sanatan,
  • Rama Srivastava,
  • Abha Singh,
  • Meerambika Mahapatro

摘要

In India, marriage and family are idealized as central institutions in women’s lives, yet many women experience homelessness despite having families. This paradox remains underexplored in relation to domesticity, mental health, and identity. The study examines how women’s homelessness unfolds through the interplay of family dynamics, mental health, and institutional responses within a socio-cultural context shaped by gendered norms and conditional belonging. Using an ethnographic approach, this qualitative study was conducted in two all-women shelter homes in the Delhi National Capital Region. Data were drawn from in-depth interviews with 50 women, along with observations, patient records, and interviews with service providers. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. A majority of women reported prolonged violence and psychological distress within marital or natal households prior to leaving or being expelled. Mental health emerged both as a contributing factor to exclusion and a consequence of homelessness. A dominant theme of “non-absorption” revealed that return to families was often blocked by stigma, honour-related concerns, and fear of mental illness. While shelters provided safety, they did not restore social identity or a sense of belonging, contributing to experiences of identity loss. The findings indicate that women’s homelessness reflects a broader crisis of belonging shaped by gendered family structures that withdraw recognition and care under conditions of vulnerability. Addressing homelessness requires moving beyond shelter provision toward approaches that support social reintegration and identity reconstruction.