The Gendered Injustices in State-Led Resettlement Housing Programs: A Systematic Review of Global South Realities
Abstract
The implications of state-led resettlement housing on the adaptation and experience of women in the new housing environment remain poorly understood. This review examines the lived realities of women in state-led resettlement housing and how the intersection of social identities shapes them. Using the PRISMA, Scopus and Research4Life databases, a systematic review of 31 peer-reviewed articles was conducted, and thematic analysis was performed on housing tenure, physical and socio-economic housing dimensions, and policy frameworks to investigate gendered vulnerabilities of women and their intersecting social identities. From the reviewed documents, we establish that there is an increasing scholarship on lived experiences in resettlement housing. We argue that women’s lived experiences are marked by gendered vulnerabilities often overlooked in state-led planning, housing design, and infrastructure provision, which lead to varied vulnerabilities. Therefore, embedding intersectional approaches into housing design, service provision, and livelihood support is crucial for achieving equitable and sustainable resettlement housing outcomes. However, we note that context-specific studies on state-led resettlement housing across the region are necessary.
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