Economic Adjustment and Income Adequacy of Malay Female-Headed Households in Malaysia
The main purpose of this study was to investigate the economic adjustments and income adequacy of Malay female-headed households (FHHs) in Malaysia. The study attempted to answer the following six research questions; what are the economic resources, sources of income and economic adjustments befo...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
2005
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/6042/1/FEM_2005_11.pdf |
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| Summary: | The main purpose of this study was to investigate the economic adjustments and income
adequacy of Malay female-headed households (FHHs) in Malaysia. The study
attempted to answer the following six research questions; what are the economic
resources, sources of income and economic adjustments before and after the women
becoming FHHs, and what are the factors significantly influence the economic status,
objective and subjective income adequacy of FHHs? Secondary data collected among
female headed households for the study entitled female headed household within the
context of poverty carry out in 1994195 was used in this research. The data was
analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS). The procedures used were
descriptive statistics, t-tests, multiple regression and multiple discriminant analysis.
The data analysis indicated that FHHs had access to limited economic resources. One of
the main economic adjustments undertaken by the women was getting involved in
employment to support their living. Three models explaining the economic status,
objective and subjective income adequacy for widows, divorcees and all FHHs were
tested in this research. Divorcee's economic status was significantly explained by
education, income earned from employment, and ownership of properties while
widow's economic status was significantly explained by ownership of properties, and
other sources of income. Training, education, and income earned from employment
contributed significantly to discriminate the divorcee's objective income adequacy. For
widows it was found that income earned from other sources, employment, and
remittance from children contributed significantly to discriminate the widow's objective
income adequacy. Among FHHs there were only 34.2% divorcees and 27.9% widows
whose income was adequate. When subjective income adequacy was analyzed there
were 13% divorcees and 14.8% widows who perceived that their income is adequate.
After taking into account all sources of income, majority of FHHs in this study; widows
or divorcees were poor. Their low level of educational attainment and lack of skills
contributed to such situation. Improve education and skills can be one of the strategies
to help FHHs cope with the changing status from being intact family to female headed.
To enhance the economic status of FHHs and reduce the incidences of poverty, relevant
policies and more integrated programs should be formulated targeted FHHs. Addressing
the needs of female headed households can be one of the effective strategies to sustain
the low level of poverty in Malaysia. |
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