Homelessness, Gender and Subsistence: The Case of Toronto Street Youth

Abstract

Research on employment segregation and women's lower earnings has predominantly focused on labour-market participants. Marginal groups such as the homeless have therefore been excluded from theory and research on work-related gender segregation. In order to ®ll this void, this paper explores how income creation among homeless youth from Toronto, Canada varies according to gender. Based on questionnaire and interview data our results show that, in relative terms, males are involved in the more ®nancially lucrative sectors of the street economy. We frame the analysis of our ®ndings in terms of a broader discussion of how homelessness is gendered within the spaces and places homeless youth occupy.

Sexual health, vulnerabilities and risk behaviours among homeless adults

“…They may enter into an intimate relationship exchanging sex for shelter, which, for women, often introduces or stabilises a gendered power imbalance. 15 Sex workers are forced to work in public spaces, which has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of coercive unprotected sex. 16 A substantial number of participants engaged in sex work.…”

Street-Involved Youth and Their Animal Companions—Stigma and Survival

“…In one study of 207 homeless or previously homeless youth in California, 75 % of youth reported regular and negative interactions with police (Bernstein and Foster 2008). Although street-involved youth are more likely to be involved in criminal activity than domiciled youth, O'Grady and Gaetz (2007) point out that while crimes are more likely to be committed by male youth, "theft and drug dealing are by no means dominant money-making activities". In the aforementioned California study, only 8 % of youth reported getting money from theft, 7 % from selling drugs, and 5 % from prostitution (Bernstein and Foster 2008).…”

Repenser l’itinérance au féminin dans le cadre d’une recherche participative

“…Elles vont taire leur situation, par peur de perdre ou de ne pas récupérer la garde de leurs enfants, mais aussi par peur du jugement des autres (Corwal, 2002 ;Sznajder-Murray et Slesnick, 2011 ;Zlotnick, Tam et Bradley, 2010). Dans la rue, elles vont adopter des stratégies de survie particulières pour se prémunir des violences physiques et sexuelles : se procurer un chien (Jamoulle, 2009) ; cesser de se laver 3 ; adopter une attitude agressive et masculine (Huey et Berndt, 2008) ; établir des relations intimes homosexuelles (Bellot, 2001) ; avoir recours à un proxénète (O'Grady et Gaetz, 2004) ; ou s'unir à un homme pour en tirer une forme de protection (Jamoulle, 2009 ;Lanzarini, 2000 ;Osthus et Sewpaul, 2014 ;Watson, 2011). Les relations intimes permettent ainsi aux femmes d'obtenir une sécurité émotionnelle, physique et matérielle (Kirst, Erickson et Strike, 2009 ;Raffaelli et al, 2000 ;Watson, 2013) et, dans certains cas, d'améliorer leurs conditions de vie (Laporte, Le Ménier, Oppenchaim, Pourette et Carpentier, 2007).…”