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Negative cultural capital and homeless young people
Barker, Justin
Barker, Justin
Author
Abstract
This article examines the ways in which homeless young people find a sense of self-worth and dignity within the conditions of youth homelessness. It notes that, while homeless young people seek a space where they do not feel marginalised and can attain a form of social status and cultural competence, they also engage in practices and acts of defiant independence that appear counter-productive and self-destructive. The author, utilising ethnographic research with homeless young people, including interviews, focus groups and participant observation over a 12-month period, finds that conventional concepts of cultural capital cannot explain this contradictory behaviour. He posits instead the concept of negative cultural capital as a way of explaining why homeless young people struggle for recognition in ways that collude in reinforcing their marginalisation.
Keywords
negative cultural capital, homelessness, ethnography, marginalised youth
Date
2013
Type
Journal article
Journal
Journal of Youth Studies
Book
Volume
16
Issue
3
Page Range
358-374
Article Number
ACU Department
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled