Living on the Streets in Japan: Homeless Women Break their Silence [Hardcover]

A groundbreaking study of homeless women in Japan, challenging stereotypes and giving voice to their unique experiences.

Since the 1990s, homelessness has been a recognized issue in Japan. However, the dominant image is that of an unemployed male laborer, largely excluding the experiences of women. This study challenges that model, giving voice to the homeless women of Japan. Based on extensive fieldwork, the author vividly portrays the diverse environments and unique challenges these women face. By introducing a gender perspective and questioning the idea of the homeless individual as a rational, autonomous subject, this book invites a critical reconsideration of both homeless studies and public policy.

This book is for academics, social workers, and anyone interested in Japanese society, gender studies, and social inequality. It offers:

• A deeper understanding of the complexities of homelessness.
• Insights into gender inequality within social welfare systems.
• A challenge to existing stereotypes.

'This book provides deep insights into the lives of female rough sleepers in Japan and a critical assessment of the academic discourse that has developed around this phenomenon. As such, I recommend this book not only to those who seek information about female rough sleepers, but also to those who are interested in homelessness and homeless support in general, feminism, and subjectivity.' --- Johannes KIENER, Associate Professor, Saitama University, Japan'Maruyama pioneers the scientific discussion of homelessness not only through the choice of topic, that is, women who represent officially only 3% of the homeless population of Japan, but also through her method: she conducted participant observation framed by critical gender studies. Powerful quotes of respondents serve giving a voice to homeless women, and give a tangible grasp of the agonies of the women interviewed. This analysis is a worthwhile ethnoglӏ