'Houses do not simply represent a form of shelter; in addition they embody the dominant ideology of a society and reflect the way in which that society is organised.'

Originally published in 1986 and written by two leading authorities on the subject, this book tackles the problems of housing, homelessness, and women in the family, from a feminist perspective. It explores how housing helps to reproduce women's role within the family, both today and historically. It looks at the way British society in particular (and western society in general) defines and creates housing 'needs'. It discusses the way housing is provided and allocated to exclude specific forms of household, and describes the experiences of a particular group - single women - upon whom these processes have profound impact.

Making effective use of interview material, the authors analyse the experience and needs of women without secure accommodation. Their study will be a useful text on social policy and welfare courses, and - with its strong political implications - will also be of great interest to community workers and to local authority housing departments.

Sophie Watson is Professor of Sociology at the Open University known for her research on urban sociology and cities, particularly on public space, street markets, cultural difference, social/spatial justice and inequality, and cultures of water. Her recent publications include: City Water Matters: Cultures, Practices and Entanglements of Urban Water (2019). Spatial Justice in the City (Ed.) Routledge (2019); The New Blackwell Companion to the City (with Gary Bridge). She has played a significant role in influencing urban and social policy, in particular, in London and Sydney.