Alone together: The strategies of autonomy and relatedness in the lives of homeless youth

Journal article


Barker, Justin. (2014). Alone together: The strategies of autonomy and relatedness in the lives of homeless youth. Journal of Youth Studies. 17(6), pp. 763 - 777. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2013.853874
AuthorsBarker, Justin
Abstract

This article proposes that the social lives of homeless young people are structured by two strategies: autonomy and relatedness. The strategy of autonomy is the prevailing modus operandi of homeless young people who respond to the uncertainty and instability of their lives with a defiant independence and self-reliance. However, their propensity to self-interested autonomy exacerbates a sense of isolation, alienation and loneliness, which leads to the strategy of relatedness. These strategies are responses to instability that take divergent, and even contradictory, approaches to dealing with the conditions of youth homelessness. There is a complex interaction between these two strategies, with homeless young people's social lives and the conditions of their lives structured by the seeming incompatibility of autonomy and relatedness. This article draws on ethnographic research and 12 months of participant observation to provide an understanding of the strategies of autonomy and relatedness as they pertain to the lives to homeless young people. The strategies of autonomy and relatedness capture the recurring themes and organising sentiments in the lives of homeless young people whilst still acknowledging the diverse, inventive and unlimited variety of practices enacted by this heterogeneous group of people.

Keywordshomelessness; ethnography; autonomy; relatedness
Year2014
JournalJournal of Youth Studies
Journal citation17 (6), pp. 763 - 777
ISSN1367-6261
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2013.853874
Page range763 - 777
Research GroupInstitute of Child Protection Studies
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/886w3/alone-together-the-strategies-of-autonomy-and-relatedness-in-the-lives-of-homeless-youth

Restricted files

Publisher's version

  • 142
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

Youth homelessness and its relationship with family conflict: Models for policy and practice
Roche, Steven and Barker, Justin. (2017). Youth homelessness and its relationship with family conflict: Models for policy and practice Australian Catholic University. https://doi.org/10.24268/fhs.8306
Conceptualisations of youth homelessness and the role of the family
Barker, Justin. (2017). Conceptualisations of youth homelessness and the role of the family. In In A. Furlong (Ed.). pp. 219 - 226 Routledge.
A habitus of instability: Youth homelessness and instability
Barker, Justin David. (2016). A habitus of instability: Youth homelessness and instability. Journal of Youth Studies. 19(5), pp. 665 - 685. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2015.1098772
The importance of a ‘Human Connection’: helpful relationships with service users and linking social capital
Barker, Justin, Thomson, Lorraine and Barry, Erin. (2015). The importance of a ‘Human Connection’: helpful relationships with service users and linking social capital Australia: Australian Catholic University. https://doi.org/10.24268/fhs.8344
Helpful relationships with service users: Linking social capital
Barker, Justin and Thomson, Lorraine. (2015). Helpful relationships with service users: Linking social capital. Australian Social Work. 68(1), pp. 130 - 145. https://doi.org/10.1080/0312407X.2014.905795
Improving practice: The importance of connections in establishing positive identity and meaning in the lives of vulnerable young people
Noble-Carr, Debbie, Barker, Justin, McArthur, Morag and Woodman, Elise. (2014). Improving practice: The importance of connections in establishing positive identity and meaning in the lives of vulnerable young people. Children and Youth Services Review. 47(3), pp. 389 - 396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.10.017
Negative cultural capital and homeless young people
Barker, Justin. (2013). Negative cultural capital and homeless young people. Journal of Youth Studies. 16(3), pp. 358 - 374. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2012.718434
Me, myself and I: Identity and meaning in the lives of vulnerable young people
Noble-Carr, Debbie, Barker, Justin and McArthur, Morag. (2013). Me, myself and I: Identity and meaning in the lives of vulnerable young people Canberra: Australian Catholic University, Institute of Child Protection Studies.
Reconnect: working with young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
Barker, Justin, Humphries, Peter, McArthur, Morag and Thomson, Lorraine. (2012). Reconnect: working with young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness Australia: Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Literature review: effective interventions for working with young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
Barker, Justin, Humphries, Peter, McArthur, Morag and Thomson, Lorraine. (2012). Literature review: effective interventions for working with young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness Australia: Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Social capital, homeless young people and the family
Barker, Justin. (2012). Social capital, homeless young people and the family. Journal of Youth Studies. 15(6), pp. 730 - 743. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2012.677812
More than just me: Supporting fathers who are homeless
Barker, Justin, Kolar, Violet, Mallett, Shelley, McArthur, Morag and Saunders, Victoria. (2011). More than just me: Supporting fathers who are homeless Canberra, Australia: Australian Catholic University.
Evaluation of the supporting children after separation program post separation cooperative parenting programs
McArthur, Morag, Thomson, Lorraine, Woodward, Merrilyn, Barker, Justin, Layton, Megan and Winkworth, Gail. (2011). Evaluation of the supporting children after separation program post separation cooperative parenting programs Australia: Australian Catholic University.