Voices from the Margins: A Study of Runaway Girls in Karachi’s Shelter Homes
Keywords:
Runaway Females, Mental Health, Family Factors, Educational Aspiration, Support System
Abstract
The main objective of the current study was to investigate the experiences and causes of run-away girls living in shelter houses in Karachi. The primary focus of the research was on the causes they left their homes and the challenges they faced after runaway, by using qualitative research method and an exploratory type to explore the reasons and experiences of fugitive girls. The purposive sampling technique was used, and the target population was girls aged 17 to 35. Ten cases were recorded by applying a semi-structured interview method and thematic analyses. Results showed that domestic violence, forced marriages, and lack of family support were the primary causes that forced those girls to flee from their homes. Several of them grieved from mental-health and emotional stress and struggled to regulate their lives in shelter houses. They mostly confronted challenges and worries in trusting others, feeling secured, and upgrading their lives. This research recommends a critical need for healthier social support, counselling services, and awareness movements to support these girls in order to manage with their experiments.
References
Ashiq, U., Subhan, S., & Zahra, S. T. (2022). Psychological abuse & neglect in Pakistan: Interpretive phenomenological analysis in adolescents. Pakistan Journal of Social Research, 4(3), 481–488. https://doi.org/10.52567/pjsr.v4i03.738
Brooks Holliday, S., Edelen, M. O., & Tucker, J. S. (2017). Family functioning and predictors of runaway behavior among at-risk youth. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 34(3), 247–258. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-016-0459-z
Burke, A. S., Mustafa, H., & Boies, K. (2019). Girl runaways, truants, and incorrigibles. In F. P. Bernat & K. Frailing (Eds.), The Encyclopedia of Women and Crime (1st ed., pp. 1–5). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118929803.ewac0238
Chadambuka, C., & Warria, A. (2020). Examining support systems available for victims of intimate partner violence in rural areas in Zimbabwe. Practice, 32(5), 381–399. https://doi.org/10.1080/09503153.2020.1750579
Fatima, S. A., Fatima, S. T., & Alwi, S. K. K. (2021). Major causes of female dropouts at different educational levels in Karachi. Global Educational Studies Review, 6(1), 293–305. https://doi.org/10.31703/gesr.2021(VI-1).30
Härkönnen, M. (2024, June 25). “A mini home far away from home.” The Thai temple and women’s sense of safety in Finland. Frontiers in Psychology, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1354068
Hashmi, S. S., Bano, K., & Ahmed, S. (2024). Influence of Parental Encouragement on the Educational and Career Choices of Their Children. Social Science Review Archives, 2(2), 2412–2423.
Hirani, S. S., Norris, C. M., Van Vliet, K. J., Van Zanten, S. V., Karmaliani, R., & Lasiuk, G. (2018). Social support intervention to promote resilience and quality of life in women living in Karachi, Pakistan: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Public Health, 63(6), 693–702. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-018-.1101-y
Hunowu, B. P. (2021). Countermeasures Against the Criminal Act of Runaway Underage Girls. Estudiante Law Journal, 129-139.
Hussain, A., & Afzal, H. (2013). Exploring the issue of ‘run-away women’ in Pakistan: A call for social and legal change. Journal of Law & Social Research, No. 4, 95–108. https://doi.org/10.7146/nnjlsr.v0i4.111097
Ikuteyijo, O., Akinyemi, A., Merten, S., & Fetters, M. (2022). Removing barriers to utilisation of support services for abused female adolescents in Nigerian slums. European Journal of Public Health, 32(Supplement_3), ckac131.455. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckac131.455
Iram, T., Bilal, A. R., & Parveen, S. (2019). Empowering the runaway women: a fight against violence. Religación: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, 4(14), 28-37.
Jones, N., Pincock, K., Emirie, G., Gebeyehu, Y., & Yadete, W. (2021). Supporting resilience among young people at risk of child abuse in Ethiopia: The role of social system alignment. Child Abuse & Neglect, 119, 105137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105137
Nawaz, S. M., Napolano, E., Batool, E., Gul, K., & Mukhtar, B. (2023). Understanding the barriers and challenges faced by the women-preneurs of Karachi, Pakistan. Pakistan Business Review, 25(3), 315–340. https://doi.org/10.22555/pbr.v25i3.940
Nawaz, S., Bashir, T., Habib, Q., & Shabbir, M. S. (2024). The Invisible Chains: Domestic Violence and Women’s Rights in Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 12(4), 3328–3337. https://doi.org/10.52131/pjhss.2024.v12i4.2595
Parveen, K., Hashmi, S. S., & Jan, M. (2022). Impacts of intimate partner violence on the academic performance of married female students. International Journal of Middle Eastern Research, 1(1), 25–32.
Priyanka & Monika. (2023). Runaway girls: An understanding of the reasons and consequences. Journal of Psychosocial Well-Being, 04(01), 55–61. https://doi.org/10.55242/JPSW.2023.4109
Skilton, L., McMahon, G., & Muldoon, O. T. (2024). Running women or women runners: Does identity salience affect intention to exercise outside and feelings of safety? Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 34(1), e2765. https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.2765
Thompson, S. J., Safyer, A. W., & Pollio, D. E. (2001). Differences and predictors of family reunification among subgroups of runaway youths using shelter services. Social Work Research, 25(3), 163–172. https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/25.3.163.
Wamoyi, J., Heise, L., Meiksin, R., Kyegombe, N., Nyato, D., & Buller, A. M. (2019). Is transactional sex exploitative? A social norms perspective, with implications for interventions with adolescent girls and young women in Tanzania. PLOS ONE, 14(4), e0214366. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0214366
Xu, J. (2024). The Influence of Family Environment on Children’s Mental Health. J Educ Humanit Soc Sci, 45, 123-8.
Yaseen, M., Kamal, M., Jan, M., & Rab, S. (2021). Abuse Pattern of Runaway Women in Karachi: A Case Study of Darul-Aman. PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt / Egyptology, 18(4), 7573–7583.
Brooks Holliday, S., Edelen, M. O., & Tucker, J. S. (2017). Family functioning and predictors of runaway behavior among at-risk youth. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 34(3), 247–258. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-016-0459-z
Burke, A. S., Mustafa, H., & Boies, K. (2019). Girl runaways, truants, and incorrigibles. In F. P. Bernat & K. Frailing (Eds.), The Encyclopedia of Women and Crime (1st ed., pp. 1–5). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118929803.ewac0238
Chadambuka, C., & Warria, A. (2020). Examining support systems available for victims of intimate partner violence in rural areas in Zimbabwe. Practice, 32(5), 381–399. https://doi.org/10.1080/09503153.2020.1750579
Fatima, S. A., Fatima, S. T., & Alwi, S. K. K. (2021). Major causes of female dropouts at different educational levels in Karachi. Global Educational Studies Review, 6(1), 293–305. https://doi.org/10.31703/gesr.2021(VI-1).30
Härkönnen, M. (2024, June 25). “A mini home far away from home.” The Thai temple and women’s sense of safety in Finland. Frontiers in Psychology, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1354068
Hashmi, S. S., Bano, K., & Ahmed, S. (2024). Influence of Parental Encouragement on the Educational and Career Choices of Their Children. Social Science Review Archives, 2(2), 2412–2423.
Hirani, S. S., Norris, C. M., Van Vliet, K. J., Van Zanten, S. V., Karmaliani, R., & Lasiuk, G. (2018). Social support intervention to promote resilience and quality of life in women living in Karachi, Pakistan: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Public Health, 63(6), 693–702. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-018-.1101-y
Hunowu, B. P. (2021). Countermeasures Against the Criminal Act of Runaway Underage Girls. Estudiante Law Journal, 129-139.
Hussain, A., & Afzal, H. (2013). Exploring the issue of ‘run-away women’ in Pakistan: A call for social and legal change. Journal of Law & Social Research, No. 4, 95–108. https://doi.org/10.7146/nnjlsr.v0i4.111097
Ikuteyijo, O., Akinyemi, A., Merten, S., & Fetters, M. (2022). Removing barriers to utilisation of support services for abused female adolescents in Nigerian slums. European Journal of Public Health, 32(Supplement_3), ckac131.455. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckac131.455
Iram, T., Bilal, A. R., & Parveen, S. (2019). Empowering the runaway women: a fight against violence. Religación: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, 4(14), 28-37.
Jones, N., Pincock, K., Emirie, G., Gebeyehu, Y., & Yadete, W. (2021). Supporting resilience among young people at risk of child abuse in Ethiopia: The role of social system alignment. Child Abuse & Neglect, 119, 105137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105137
Nawaz, S. M., Napolano, E., Batool, E., Gul, K., & Mukhtar, B. (2023). Understanding the barriers and challenges faced by the women-preneurs of Karachi, Pakistan. Pakistan Business Review, 25(3), 315–340. https://doi.org/10.22555/pbr.v25i3.940
Nawaz, S., Bashir, T., Habib, Q., & Shabbir, M. S. (2024). The Invisible Chains: Domestic Violence and Women’s Rights in Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 12(4), 3328–3337. https://doi.org/10.52131/pjhss.2024.v12i4.2595
Parveen, K., Hashmi, S. S., & Jan, M. (2022). Impacts of intimate partner violence on the academic performance of married female students. International Journal of Middle Eastern Research, 1(1), 25–32.
Priyanka & Monika. (2023). Runaway girls: An understanding of the reasons and consequences. Journal of Psychosocial Well-Being, 04(01), 55–61. https://doi.org/10.55242/JPSW.2023.4109
Skilton, L., McMahon, G., & Muldoon, O. T. (2024). Running women or women runners: Does identity salience affect intention to exercise outside and feelings of safety? Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 34(1), e2765. https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.2765
Thompson, S. J., Safyer, A. W., & Pollio, D. E. (2001). Differences and predictors of family reunification among subgroups of runaway youths using shelter services. Social Work Research, 25(3), 163–172. https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/25.3.163.
Wamoyi, J., Heise, L., Meiksin, R., Kyegombe, N., Nyato, D., & Buller, A. M. (2019). Is transactional sex exploitative? A social norms perspective, with implications for interventions with adolescent girls and young women in Tanzania. PLOS ONE, 14(4), e0214366. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0214366
Xu, J. (2024). The Influence of Family Environment on Children’s Mental Health. J Educ Humanit Soc Sci, 45, 123-8.
Yaseen, M., Kamal, M., Jan, M., & Rab, S. (2021). Abuse Pattern of Runaway Women in Karachi: A Case Study of Darul-Aman. PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt / Egyptology, 18(4), 7573–7583.
Published
2025-10-31
How to Cite
Yaseen, M., & Fatima, R. (2025). Voices from the Margins: A Study of Runaway Girls in Karachi’s Shelter Homes. Journal of Social Sciences and Media Studies, 9(1), 35-47. https://doi.org/10.58921/jossams.09.01.0446
Section
Articles
