Buildings or homes where people live, especially when talking about them as a social or economic issue.
From the verb “house” plus the noun-forming suffix “-ing.” It began to be used more broadly in the 19th and 20th centuries with urban growth and planning.
When governments talk about “housing,” they mean more than just walls and roofs—they’re talking about fairness, health, and opportunity. Where you live can quietly shape your entire life chances.
Housing policy and practice have often assumed male breadwinners and female dependents, shaping eligibility rules and design standards that did not reflect women’s autonomy or safety needs. In many places, women faced legal and financial barriers to renting or owning housing independently until late in the 20th century.
Discuss housing access and design with awareness that safety, caregiving, and economic precarity often affect women and gender minorities differently; avoid assuming a default male leaseholder or owner.
["accommodation","shelter","residential provision"]
Women activists and researchers have been central to movements for fair housing, shelter from domestic violence, and recognition of housing as a social right, though their work is often overshadowed by male policymakers.
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