Social Problems Facing Libyan Female Breadwinners in Informal Settlements A Field Study on a Sample of Women Residing in Informal Settlements in the City of Al-Mar

Abstract

The current study aimed to identify the most significant social problems facing Libyan women heads of households, both within and outside the family circle. It also aimed to determine the main factors that led to their residing in these informal settlements. The study sample consisted of (80) female heads of households living in informal settlements, selected using purposive sampling. This study employed a descriptive-analytical approach, and the data collection tool was an interview questionnaire. The data for this study were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The research yielded several results that answered the research questions. It revealed that Libyan women, particularly those who are the sole providers for their families and live in informal settlements within the local community of Al-Marj, suffer from numerous social problems. The problems were both within and outside the family: families in slums suffer from a lack of decent living conditions, such as overcrowding, lack of privacy among family members, and the absence of suitable, healthy housing. Furthermore, there is a high rate of conflict among family members. Libyan women who are the primary breadwinners also suffer. The problems of the slums also extend beyond the family, as the study found, including a lack of security and the spread of immoral behaviors among the children. This, in turn, is due to several factors, as the study found, such as the family's inability to purchase healthy property, the high cost of rent within the city, and the weak economic independence of the Libyan family.