In her place : a study of women's personal safety in boarding houses

Abstract

The quality of life in Auckland boarding houses is unsatisfactory for males and females alike. The stressful lifestyles of many of the residents can contribute to an atmosphere that is both volatile and unpredictable. This thesis suggests that within such an environment it is women who are the most vulnerable. Due to both their (comparative) physical weakness and to the specific characteristics of gender roles it is women who are most likely to be victimised within a community under stress. Therefore it is considered necessary to apply a gendered focus and analysis of the boarding house experience. This thesis also maintains that there are a number of factors that have operated to conceal the experience and realities of women in boarding houses. These range from the construction of myths and stereotypes, the gender bias of previous research, the lack of protection in current legislation and the low reportage rate of the women themselves. Concealment of the women who are the most severely affected by abuse is maintained by medication and by the fact that access to these women is frequently controlled by a caregiver who may also be the abuser. It is these, and other dynamics, that have maintained the invisibility of the particular predicament of women who live in boarding houses. The thesis also positions itself within the debate on the reform and privatisation of both the housing and health "markets" in New Zealand. It examines various local and central government policies and how they have impacted on boarding houses. It also explores the position of boarding houses within the construct of 'private' and 'public' realms. It is maintained that those in authority are able to abdicate their responsibilities because boarding houses occupy an ill-defined position within the public/private debate. The research study component of this thesis seeks to explore the operatives of safety or security in the lives of women who live in boarding houses. It aims to identify the physical, emotional and sexual vulnerability that women experience in relation to their accommodation. The study aims to define the level of disempowerment these women experience as a result of their housing environment.