Contradictory and Intersecting Patterns of Inclusion and Exclusion of Street Youth in Salvador, Brazil

Abstract

Drawing on longitudinal qualitative research in Brazil involving participant observation and narrative interviews with young homeless persons, and semi-structured interviews with middle class residents, local businesses, and patrolling police officers, three overlapping yet contradictory dimensions of inclusion and exclusion are developed. First the hegemonic exclusionary discourse that tends to produce stigmatizing labels on poor people in general, and boys and young men on the street in particular, is mapped out. Second, socio-spatial exclusionary mechanisms involving architectural measures, surveillance cameras and violent policing, guarding the neighbourhood from stigmatised 'others' are examined. Third, the less recognised but equally important inclusionary mechanisms, facilitating street life and enabling a sense of belonging among young homeless people are explored. A simplistic and unidimensional conceptualisation of social exclusion is critiqued while demonstrating the multifaceted, intertwined, and contradictory character of homeless people's social relationships with middle class residents, businesses, and police. Furthermore, the exclusion/inclusion dualism that is vivid in the existing literature is questioned. It is suggested that a nuanced picture is vital to increasing our understanding of the everyday lives of homeless populations and that further investigation and theorization of their exclusion as well as inclusion is needed.

Gatebarnet som offer og helt

“…For eksempel oppleves politiet som en kilde til trakassering og frykt av mange unge gatebeboere, spesielt i ungdomsårene. Samtidig medfører politiets tilstedevaerelse tidvis en økt trygghetsfølelse fordi den reduserer andre farer (Ursin, 2011(Ursin, , 2016. Dette viser at sosiale møter på tvers av ulike grupperinger sjelden er endimensjonale og statiske.…”

“…Videre synliggjør det barn og voksnes gjensidige avhengighet; deres tanker og reaksjoner bør alltid sees på som reaksjon til og i sammenheng med hverandre. (Voksnes) diskurser påvirker hvilke måter gatebarn blir møtt på, definert som og debattert om, som igjen har stor innflytelse på deres hverdag og livsopphold (Ursin, 2016). Gjennom…”

Escutando Os Adultos Sobre Proteção Da Infância E Crianças Em Situação De Rua No Brasil Urbano.

“…O risco de crescer na rua foi amplamente pesquisado e documentado, confirmando o status dos jovens pobres como aqueles que são frequentemente "elementos malvindos" no espaço público (por exemplo SCHEPER-HUGHES; HOFFMAN, 1998;URSIN, 2012URSIN, , 2016YOUNG, 2003). Apesar disso, a defesa central da ideia de 3 Entre os precursores dessa abordagem no Brasil destacam-se Florestan Fernandes (QUINTEIRO, 2002;ABRAMOWICZ, 2015;SOUZA, 2015) e José de Souza Martins (QUINTEIRO, 2002;SOUZA, 2015 PINHEIRO, 2006).…”

Researching Homelessness: Challenging Exclusion?

“…In our third contribution, Macías Balda (2016) also sees social inclusion as a goal of service provision and critically reflects on how local homelessness services are addressing the needs of people with complex needs. Following these three contributions from the UK context, Ursin's (2016) multi-method and ethnographic research on street youth in Brazil uncovers considerable complexity in patterns of inclusion and exclusion of homeless youth, while Okamoto's (2016) contribution reviews the broader debates around the problem of social exclusion and housing exclusion in the Japanese context.…”

“…The benefits of acknowledging the views of homeless people are not yet fully utilised (Paradis, 2016). Exclusionary mechanisms persist (for example in the Brazilian case), including labelling and social stigma, but recognising the capacity/potential for empowerment and inclusion to develop from street homelessness (and a wide range of socio-economic conditions) also remains a theme for further exploration (Ursin, 2016).…”