Paper Title
Is feminisation of poverty a failure of human capabilities? A malaysian case scenario

Abstract
The relationship between feminization and poverty is a complex and controversial topic that is now being debated more than ever before in Malaysia. Although much policy making has been informed by the idea of feminization of poverty, the precise nature of the nexus between gender and poverty needs to be better understood and operationalised in policymaking. This complexity comes from various forms of gender inequalities and poverty based on the economic, social and ideological context. Hence, studies that confirm gender inequalities, particularly in access to and fulfilment of basic needs, support the claim that �female poverty� cannot be comprised under the same conceptual approach as male poverty. While income data are particularly difficult to validate gender poverty, households are also mainly headed by men. Thus, gender perspective becomes difficult to highlight. In this light, the aim of the study is to address several puzzling concerns that entails normative factors of women which leads to capability deprivation and eventually tantamount to feminisation of poverty. This paper is conceptual in nature. Using document analysis the study reveals that essential prerequisite for turning women's capabilities into effective entitlements to improved well-being. The paper concludes by providing policy recommendations on reducing the deprivation due to the failure of human capabilities experienced by the women in poverty. Keywords- feminisation of poverty, gender poverty, capability, Malaysia